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The Garrison Church 

SKETCHES OF THE HISTORY 



or 



Sr. Thomas' Parish 

garrison forest 

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MARYLAND 
1742 18^2 



I'.V THE 



REV. ETHAN ALLEN, D. D., BALTIMORE 



EDITED BV 

REV. HOBARTjSMlTH M. A. 
Rector St. Thomas' Parish, 189 
with additional sketches 



NEW YORK 

Jamhs Pott & Co. 
1898 



F/S7 



'^^^^28 



COI'VklGHT. i.v»S. 1!Y 
HOBAKT SMITH 

rtV© COPIES nEegiVft- 




CO*!* COdnfai. lAlTIMOM. 







u > 

z I 

O -z 

■S) ■- 









^ 



THIS HISTORY OF ST. THOMAS' PARISH, 
GARRISON FOREST. MARYI^AND, 

IS 

AFFECTIONATELY IXSCRIBED 

* • TO "■ - M ••■' 

.MR. CHARLES MORTON STEWART, 

SKNIOR VESTRYMAN. 





HE EDITOR of these sketches, when he 
became Rector of St. Thomas' Parish, in 
icS8S, found himself the custodian not 
only of the old records and papers, but 
also of the manuscript history of the Garrison Church, 
by the Rev. Ethan Allen, D. D. The Diocese of 
Maryland cannot too highly honor this name. It is due 
one who has kept from oblivion the names and deeds of 



VI 



1l^tl•o^uction. 



carlv workers in tlie Clnircli in this colon}- cluit liis own 
life and work should be remembered. 

Dr. Allen was born in Plymonth County, Massa- 
chusetts, of Puritan ancestry. The names of Alden, 
Standish, Pr\-or, Carey and Waldo appear in the family 
records. It is said that when four days old he "was 
carrif'd across the \illai^e g-reen to the meetini^-house 
and dedicated to God in holy l)a])tism." He i^raduated 
at Middleburv Collei>e, Wrmont, in rSiS. He at once 
evinced a preference for the Protestant Episcopal 
Church, and, coming to Maryland, became a lay reader 
at Trinitv Church, West Marlboro', and studied for 
holy orders under Bishop Kemp. He was ordered 
deacon March 7, 1S19, and priest i(S2i. After good 
service in St. John's, Prince (Tcorge's Countv, and in 
Washington, I). C, the missionary spirit was so strong 
in him that he went to Ohio where he organized the 
Church in Dayton, 1S30; Troy, i<S3i; Springfield, 
1833; Hamilton, 1S35; Trinity Church. Cincinnati, 
in 1844. In 1S47 he returned to Maryland where he 
gave twent\-h\e vears more of faithful service under 
the Bishop he loved. Bishop Whittingham. The clos- 
ing vears of his life were spent in Kentuckv, where he 
died November 17, 1879. '^.U<-"f^ eighty-three years. 

The Hon. A. Bowie Da\is, in a memorial of Dr. 
.•\llcn read l)etore the Baltimore Conx'ocation. said : "I 
knew this \enerable man as a Presbvter. saw him as the 
active missionary of the Dioce.se, traveling from ]:)arish 
to jiarish. presenting the cause of missions in bold. 



1(ntro^uctlon. vii 

eloquent and irresistible appeals ; in Church conventions 
I saw, on several occasions, such men as Judge Chambers, 
Samuel J. Donaldson, Hugh Davy Evans, and even 
Bishop Whittingham call on Dr. Allen upon questions 
of church history and the earl}' settlement of the 
Church in Maryland, and his opinions were accepted as 
conclusive upon the subject matter of inquirv. He 
was the first to discover and rescue from oblivion the 
important historical fact that the Mar\-land Toleration 
Act of 1649 '^^''^•'^ ^^^^ to Protestant and not to Roman 
Catholic suggestion and enactment." 

The manuscript history of this parish was pur- 
chased in 1884 from Judge \Vm. A. Stewart bv Mr. 
Samuel H. Tagart, a vestr^-man, for $75. 

At that time Col. William Allen, Principal of 
McDonogh School, proposed to edit these sketches and 
publish them, but unfortunately he was not able to 
carrv out his purpose. After his death the dutv and 
privilege devohed upon me, and with this in view I fre- 
quently conversed with ]Mr. Thomas Cradock, the 
senior warden. His father and mother both were 
grandchildren of the first Rector, the Rev. Thomas 
Cradock. His father born in 1773, (died i860) was 
twent^'-two years old when Mrs. Thomas Cradock, the 
widow of the first Rector, died. The traditions of the 
parish are therefore direct and reliable. Mr. Cradock 
repeated these traditions with the utmost care for accu- 
racy. When some doubted whether the brick in the 
church really came from England, Mr. Cradock would 



^iii UntroDuctton. 

saw "inv hitlit-r told iik- and liis hitlier told him, and in 
those days, sir, oentlenicii told the truth." 

Tliese sketches by Dr. Allen were largely derived 
from Mr. Cradock's father, but the honor is due Dr. 
Allen for their preserxation in this form, and also for 
the careful searching of the old records. The Editor 
has gone o\er the records and made a few corrections of 
dates, and has added notes, but has not attempted to 
revise the st\-le. He has also corresponded with the 
descendants of early Rectors and vestrymen, and is in- 
debted to them for interesting facts. The late Rev. 
Andrew Oliver, D. D., Professor in the General Theo- 
logical Seminarw (died October 17, 1S97, in his se\enty- 
fourth \eari contributed xaluable information concern- 
ing his grandfather, the Rev. Thomas Fitch 01i\"er, 
who died as Rector of this parish in 1797. Dr. Olixer 
was greath' interested in the publication of this Parish 
Historw and onl\- the (la\- before his death dictated to 
his son some data which I had asked; two weeks before 
liis death he enclosed me a photograph from an old por- 
trait of his grandfather, and ga\e me permission to print 
an interesting letter about chanting, which will be 
tound in these pages. 

Mr. Robert Andrews, of P^ast Orange, N. J., the 
great-grandson of Re\-. John Andrews, D. D., Rector 
of til is parish 17.S2-1785, has helped materialh- by his 
researcli concerning his distinguished ancestor. 

.A most interesting feature of this book of sketches 
will be found in the contributions of Miss Katherine 



1Intro&uction. ix 

Cradock, of "Treiithain," of notes of tlie conversation 
of her fatlier, Mr. Thomas Cradock. 

Miss Sophie DeBntts Stewart has added attractive- 
ness to the book by her illustrations ; and Miss Louisa 
Hopper, of New York, by a pen-and-ink sketch, has 
brought into light a faded portrait of Rev. Thomas 
Fitch 01i\'er. 

My part has been the sometimes tedious work of 
verifying dates and preparing all the matter for publi- 
cation. There is abundant opportunity for the imagina- 
tion to illumine the facts gathered here, and some of 
the characters would serve well the writer of romance. 
As a Parish History- it is not remarkable for the record 
of great sacrifice, or of conspicuous personal devotion. 
It is a sad story in the long periods of vacancies in the 
rectorate, and in the struggles of Rectors with a 
scanty living made possible onh' by teaching school. 
But there have always been a faithful few to whom the 
old Church has been dear. While there are man}- 
colonial parishes in Maryland, few are as old as this 
where the walls of the first church building remain. 

Antiquity- has its value ; but the \'alue is greater if 
that which is old increases in strength and grows in 
usefulness. It does not detract from the veneration of 
the old \valls that they are not yet ruins, but have been 
extended in recent years to gather in twice as many 
people as when Dr. Allen closed his historical notes. 
This has been accomplished without violence to the 
colonial features of the architecture. Like the English 



X 1IIUro^uctton. 

Church in the Reformation, which kept that which was 
valnable in Litnrgy and in Doctrine, and yet adapted 
itself to the growing intelligence and spiritual freedom 
of Christian civilization, this little parish church of 
Maryland colonial days has kept to tlie old, and yet 
seeks to gather in the life of the present. Chapels and 
meeting houses have multiplied within its ancient par- 
ish bounds ; its children ha\e been scattered and sepa- 
rated, but still it is here as a "witness and a keeper" of 
tlie truth. 

That it will continue to bless is assured by Divine 
promise, and the}' are happ\' who share its work and 
blessing. 

This book goes forth with a prayer that its pages 
may inspire a greater love of the Church, and that it 
may serve as a memorial of "the labor which is not in 
vain, in the Lord." 

HoKART Smith. 
St. Thomas' Rectory, 
Garrison Forest, Maryland, 
Advent, 1898, 



XTable ot Contents. 



PART I. 



CHAPTER I. 
Benedict Bourdillon— The "Forest Inhabitants"— The 

Garrison— Chapel of Ease— Parish Incorporated . . i 

CHAPTER II. 
Parish Organized— Vestry— Record— Thomas Cradock— 
Education— Romance— Marriage — Archbishop Cra- 
dock ' 

CHAPTER III. — 1745-1770- 
Vestry House— Communion Rail— Bachelors Taxed— 

Church Plastered— Surplice Bought 13 

CHAPTER IV.— 1747-1770- 
Thomas Cradock— Sermons— Meeting of the Clergy— 

Psalms in Verse— Death of Parson Cradock ... 22 
CHAPTER v.— 1770-1775- 
William Edmiston— The Methodists— Chapel at the 
Forks— Chalice and Paten Bought— Communion 
Table Covered With Green Cloth— The Revolution— 

A Tory Parson 28 

CHAPTER VI.— 1775-17S2. 
Thomas Hopkins— Vestry Renounces Allegiance— Vestry 

Act 1779— Rev. William West 3^ 

CHAPTER VII.— 1782-1785- 
John Andrews— Tries to Reconcile the Methodists— Dr. 
Coke— Mr. Asbury— Provost University of Penn- 
sylvania ^^ 



CHAPTER VIII.— 1785-1797- 
Thomas Fitch Oliver— Pews Re-rented— George Ralph- 
Parsonage Built 50 

CHAPTER IX.— 1797-1805. 

John Coleman— A Soldier of '76— A Methodist Preacher- 
Left the Methodists— 1784— Marriage— Rectory En- 
larged—Glebe Purchased— Census Ordered ... 57 

CHAPTER X.— 1805-1810. 

John Armstrong— A Methodist— Ordained by Bishop 
White— Pew System Set Aside— Lottery to Pay for 
Glebe — Mr. Armstrong asked to Resign .... 67 

CHAPTER XL— 1810-1819. 

George Ralph, locum tenens — John Chandler — The 
Churchyard Wall — Joseph Jaclcson — Elected — Dis- 
missed 75 

CHAPTER XII.— 1820-1849. 

Charles C. Austin — Major David Hopkins — Parish of the 
Ascension — Churchyard Wall Completed — Death of 
Mr. Austin 80 

CHAPTER XIIL— 1849-1852. 

Jacob B. Morss — Joseph J. Nicholson 88 

CHAPTER XIV. 

William F. Lockwood — Rectory Enlarged — A Review — 

End of Dr. Allen's Manuscript 93 



PART II. 

1852-1898. 

CHAPTER XV. 

Repairs and Improvements — Dr. Maynard's Legacies — 

Death of Mr. E. I). Lyon — The Pipe Organ given . 105 



CHAPTER XVI. 

St. Mark's on the Hill — Church Road Macadamized — 
Vestry Sued — W. Strother Jones — Assistant Rector — 
Mr. Lockwood's Death no 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Hobart Smith — Plans for Enlarging Church — Mr. 
Tagart's Generous Gift — Plans Carried Out — 
The La Farge Windows — Growth of the Parish . 117 



PART III. 



Biographical Sketches 127 

The Gists— The Howards— The Owings— The Car- 
nans — Capt. John Risteau — George Bramwell — The 
Moale Family — The Lyon Family — The Worthing- 
tons — The Cockey Family — The Hunt Family — John- 
Gill— Dr. Randle Hulse— Dr. Thomas Cradock— 
Major John Cradock — Abel Brown — Charles Walker 
— Dr. Thomas Cradock Walker — Joseph West — 
Rev. George Ralph — Rev. Jacob B. Morss. 



APPENDIX. 

A. The Colonial Fort. 

B. Subscriptions for Building Church. 

C. Journal of Secretary of Commission to Treat With Indians. 

D. Namts of Bachelors Taxed. 

E. Correspondence of Drs. Andrews and Cradock. 

F. A Page of the History of Chanting. 

G. Names of Rectors. 

H. Vestrymen, Wardens, Delegates. 
I. Donations for Church Improvement, i8go. 
J. Statistics (1898) of Parishes and Churches within Ancient 
Bounds of St. Thomas'. 



Xi5t ot llUustrations. 



The Garrison Church, (before any additions were made.) Frontispiecc' 
Sophie de Butts Stewart. 

The Church Porch, S. de B. S V 

Rev. Ethan Allen, D. D i 

The Most Rev. John Cradock 9 

Facsimile First Page Vestry Record 13 

The Howard House Ruins, S. de B. S 35 

Rev. John Andrews, D. D 43 

Rev. Thomas Fitch Oliver 51 

"Where Old Frank Lives," S. de B. S 53 

The Old Rectory, S. de B. S 56 

"Ulm," Where Samuel O wings Lived 63 

The Lottery Ticket 74 

Rev. C. C. Austin, Rev. J. B. Morss, Rev. William F. 

Lockwood, Rev. W. Strother Jones 93 

The Garrison Church (1S69) 103 

St. Thomas' Rectory 109 

Rev. Hobart Smith 117 

The Garrison Church (1881) 121 

Interior Garrison Church 123 

A Friendly Character 128 

"Atamasco," Residence of Charles Carnan 139 

A Corner of the Churchyard 145 

Williamina Smith 155 

The Garrison Fort 171 

The Test Oath 185 



part I 




KKV. KTHAN ALLEN, D.D. 




ZTbe (Samson Cburcb* 

CHAPTER I. 

Benedict Bourdillon. 

N AUGUST, 1739, the Rev. Benedict 
Bourdillon was presented to the Parish 
of St. Paul's, Baltimore county, by Gov. 
Ogle, then Governor of the Province of 
Maryland, and thus became the incumbeitt ; for by that 
name the rectors of parishes were then called. He 
came to Maryland in 1737, and appears to have been 
an energetic and efficient clergyman."^ In May, 1741, 
he proposed to the vestry of St. Paul's the building, by 
subscription, of a chapel of ease for the accommodation 
of the " forest inhabitants." 

The "forest inhabitants" were the residents of what 
was then called, as it ever since has been, the Garrison 
Forest. It was so called because of a fort, and garrison 
of soldiers, under Capt John Risteau, high sheriff of 

(1) Mr. Wm. H. Corner, who is in posses.sion of a manu.script history of St. Pavil's Parish, 
by Dr. Ethan Allen, furnishes the following information concerning Mr. Bourdillon. 
"His wife was Johanna Gertruij Janssen, and was the niece of Sir Theodore Jansen, 
and cou.sin of I,ady Baltimore. In another entry in the book she is called Mrs. 
Janett Jansen Bourdillon, and also Jane Bourdillon. The Bourdillons were quite 
intimate with the family of Gov. Thomas Bladen, who was a brother-in-law to 
I,ord Baltimore. Gov. Bladen was God-father and Mrs. Bladen God-mother to 
Mr. Bourdillon's son, Thomas, born August 6, 1742." 



2 Ube Garrison Cburcb. 

the county, stationed there for the defense of these 
frontier inhabitants against the Indians. The garrison 
was not far north of where the United States arsenal 
now is, and was on Capt. John Risteau's plantation/'^ 

St. Paul's Parish, at this period, extended from the 
Patapsco River on the south to the Pennsylvania line on 
the north, and from the Patapsco Falls and the county 
line on the west to the Chesapeake Bay on the east, 
and to the Middle River, the big Gunpowder Falls, the 
Western Run, and Piney Run on the north-east, by 
which streams it was divided from St. John's Parish. 

The proposition for building the chapel was 
adopted by the Vestry ; and the Rector and Vestry- 
drew up a memorial to the Governor and General 
Assembly, stating that the Parish Church in Baltimore 
Town was found to be very inconvenient to a great 
part of the parishioners, especially the forest inhabi- 
tants, and asking that an act might be passed for their 
assistance. The reason of this application is found in 
the fact, that in the charter, by which the territory and 
government of the Province of Maryland was given to 
Lord Baltimore, in 1632, "the license and faculty of 
erecting and founding churches, chapels and places of 
worship, on suitable and convenient places within the 
province," was granted and confirmed ''unto the said 
Lord Baltimore." And the granting of this license 
and faculty to applicants had been deputed by him to 
the Governor of the Province and the General 



Ube Iparisb Uncorporate^. 3 

Assembly. No church, chapel, or place of public 
worship, could be erected and established in the province, 
by any denomination of Christians, but by their author- 
ity. The people themselves were entirely debarred of 
this liberty and right/'^ 

The memorial of the Rector and Vestry of St. 
Paul's having been duly presented in October, 1742, an 
act was passed by the General Assembly, in accordance 
with the wishes of the memorialists, by which William 
Hardilton, Christopher Gist, Samuel Owings, Chris- 
topher Randall and Nicholas Haile were empowered to 
receive voluntary subscriptions for the purchase of two 
acres of land where most convenient, and to build a 
chapel thereon, as desired by the memorialists. And 
in case, also, such contribution should not prove suffi- 
cient an assessment on the Parish was granted, which 
assessment was not to exceed ^f 133. 6s. 8d. or about 
$354.70, in any one year, nor continued for more than 
three years. 

The subscription ordered by the Vestrj'-, and au- 
thorized by the former part of this act, was accordingly 
made, and the names of the subscribers, together with 
the amounts severally subscribed by them towards the 
building of the chapel, are given here from the records 
of the Vestry of St. Paul's of that date. It will doubt- 
less be interesting to many of the present residents of 

(i) This statement must be modified. It is true as to the erection of any Parish or Church 
of the Established Church, but there must have been considerable freedom, as to 
the exercise of public worship at this time by the Dissenters. In this Parish Sater's 
Meeting House was erected by the Baptists about the same time as Garri.son Church . 
See also "Old Virginia and her Neighbors." Vol. II, page 165, — John Fiske. 



4 Zbc Gairison Cburcb. 

St. Thomas' Parish to see who were the original con- 
tributors for the erection of the old church. For this 
reason they are here inserted. ''> These subscriptions 
amounted to 4400 pounds of tobacco and £64. los. 
currency. These sums, it must be remembered, were 
over and above what each one was required, by the act 
of the Assembly, to pay annually for the three successive 
years. The amount which Mr. Bourdillon subscribed 
was nearly double that of any one else St. Thomas' 
Church owes much to the personal exertions and influ- 
ence, as well as to the money contribution, of the 
Rev. Benedict Bourdillon. 

In 1743 the site of the chapel w-as selected, and 
two acres were purchased of Christopher Gist for ^4. 
or $11.70. It is on land thus purchased that 
St. Thomas' Church was then erected and still stands. 
The deed conveying it to the Vestry was acknow^ledged 
July 19, 1743, before T. Sheridan and Charles Ridgely, 
Esqrs., two of His Majestj^'s Justices. 

During this and the coming 3'ear, some progress 
was made in the erection of the chapel edifice. The 
walls were carried up, and the roof covered in. The 
bricks of which it was built were brought from England, 
but falling short somewhat of the requisite number, 
the gable ends could not be carried up to a point 
by four or five feet. This accounts for the peculiar 
appearance of the upper part of both ends of the roof "^ 

(1) Sec Appendix B. 

(3) The " peculiar appearance of the upper part of both ends of the roof " does not now 
exi.st. In 1S70 it was found necessary to entirely replace the roof. The chairman 



H)eatb of /IDr. BourMUon. 5 

It was not the original design. The edifice was 56 feet 
long, by 36 feet in breadth. It was a spacious build- 
ing for its day, and admirably well built. 

At the same time, and in the same act which pro- 
vided for the building of the chapel, it was enacted, 
that at the death of the Rev. Mr. Bourdillon, Soldiers 
Delight and Back River Upper Hundreds, being all of 
St. Paul's Parish north of the Old Court Road, leading 
from the Patapsco Falls and Joppa, then the county 
seat, in which the chapel was to be built, was to be for- 
ever separated from St. Paul's Parish and erected into 
a new parish to be called St. Thomas'. The chapel 
was then to be the Parish Church of the new parish 
thus created. This event soon occurred, for on the fifth 
of January, 1745, the Rev. Mr Bourdillon died. At that 
date, therefore, according to the before mentioned act, 
St Thomas' became a separate and independent parish. 
The territory of this parish then extended from the 
south line, separating it from St. Paul's, just stated, to 
the Pennsylvania line on the north, and from the line 
separating Baltimore county from Anne Arundel and 
Frederick counties on the west, to the Big Gunpowder 
Falls on the east ; and on the north-east, to the Western 
Run, Piney Run and a line north-west in the same direc- 
tion, separating it from St. John's Parish, now St. James'. 

of the committee was Mr. Noah Walker. Mr. John EUicott, architect, in Balti- 
more, was consulted. The grable ends were carried to a point, and a sharp pitched 
roof took the place of the former picturesque hip roof, much to the regret of many 
of the people. The distinctly marked line (referred to by Dr. Allen, and often 
mentioned by Mr. Cradock, where the brick which had been brought in the second 
3'ear of the erection of the church commenced) was lost, and modern brick, laid 
in the modern way of building, instead of what was called the Flemi.sh binding, 
detracted from its antique character. 



6 TLbc Garrison Cburcb. 

At this time the inhabitants north of the Church 
were but few. The patent for the laud four miles north 
of it, now known as the Worthington Valley, bears date 
1740, onl}^ five years previous to this time, and was of 
course all wild-wood. The Indians, bears, wolves 
and deer were then common in that region, and so con- 
tinued to be for years thereafter. 





CHAPTER II. 

Thomas Cradock. 

N THE fourth of February, 1745, under the 
Act of Assembly referred to the parish- 
ioners assembled at their Parish Church, 
and elected Nathaniel Stinchcomb, John 
Gill, William Cockey, Joshua Owings, John Hamilton 
and George Ashman, Vestrymen; and Peter Gosnell 
and Cornelius Howard, Church Wardens Christopher 
Randall was, at the same time, appointed Register, with 
a salary of ^5. currency per annum, about $13.30. 
On the same day the vestrymen and wardens held 
their first meeting. The Rev. Thomas Cradock then 
showed his letters mandate from His Excellenc}^, 
Thomas Bladen, Esq., Governor of the Province of 
Maryland, dated January 14, 1745, to exercise the office 
of minister in St. Thomas' Parish. At that time, and 
so it had been in the Province from the year 1692, the 
appointment of a minister to a parish was not in the 
hands of the parish, nor in the hands of the vestr}^, as 
it now is. The appointment was at the disposal of Lord 
Baltimore, the proprietary of the Province. It was 
given him in his charter. And he exercised this, his 



8 ^be Garrison Cburcb. 

appointing power, by his Governor. Indeed, b}' that 
charter, he held the appointment of ministers of all 
denominations to their respective churches ; and no 
church of any name could have a minister to officiate but 
]jy his appointment, whether Episcopalian, Romanist, 
or Puritan,"^ and so it continued until 1776, except from 
1692 to 1714. 

Mr. Cradock was born at Wolverham, Bedfordshire, 
England, in 17 18. Wolverham was one of the 
estates of the Duke of Bedford. Soon after the birth 
of a younger brother of Mr. Cradock, the lady of the 
Duke presented him also with a son, but so feeble was 
lier health that she was unable to take charge of her 
infant, and the care of it was readily assumed by Mrs. 
Cradock.*^' He was the 3'outhful associate of her own son; 
and so tenderl}- and faithfully did she fulfill her 
part that she won the high regard and grati- 
tude of the Duke. He consequently took upon 
himself the education of the two young Cradocks. He 
placed them under the same masters with his owti son, 
and at a proper age sent them to Oxford, w^here the 
three pursued their studies till their course was finished. 
Tlie Duke intended both of the Cradocks for the Epis- 
copate, and by such influence as he wielded were men 
sometimes made Bishops at that time in England. In 
the case of John, the younger brother, he was successful. 



(I) It isexcfctliiiRly ilouhtful if this prerogative was exercised, except in appointments 

in the Kslnblished Church, 
(a) It npjK-iirs fron\ the Htxik of PeeraRe that the Duchess of Bedford died at this time. 

Thi- more fully accounts for Mrs. Cradock taking the child into her own home. 

The Duke married again; his second wife lieing the daughter of L,ord Gower 




rm-: nk^st kkv. jonx (Kadock, 

AK( UlilSHOl' OK ULI'.LIN. 
l"n>iu a IVntndt in ilic Arclibisliop's Palace. 



Brcbbisbop Cra^ocft. 9 

After being, by the patronage of Lord Gower, whose 
daughter the Duke married, the Rector of St. Paul's, 
Covent Garden, London, and subsequently the Duke's 
chaplain, in the year A. D. 1757 he accompanied that 
nobleman to Ireland, upon his accession to the Vice 
Royalty of that island, and in two months after his 
arrival he was appointed to the See of Kilmore. In 
1772 he was translated and became Archbishop of 
Dublin, and a member consequently of the House of 
Lords. He died December 11, 1777, and was buried in 
St. Patrick's Cathedral. " He was," says his biographer, 
" a portly, well-looking man, of a liberal turn of opinion, 
and of a social and generous disposition." He left a son, 
who, from being an officer in the Horse Guards and a 
boon companion of George IV, was promoted to the 
command of Major-General in India, and subsequently 
knighted with the title Lord Howden. 

Thomas had been intended by the Duke for one of 
the Sees in England. But an attachment having sprung 
up between a sister of the Duchess and himself, he was 
induced by her friends to emigrate to Maryland. Mr. 
Cradock was ordained Deacon, September 20, 1741, by 
the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, as is shown by 
his letters of orders. ^'^ In December 21, 1741. he is styled 
clerk ^ and was licensed by the same bishop as master of 
the Free School of Trentham, in Staffordshire. In that 
situation he seems to have remained till September 25, 

(i) Mr. Cradock's L,etters of Orders are among the Records of the Diocese in the Mary- 
land Episcopal I<ibrary. 

C 



10 XTbc Garrison Cburcb. 

1743, when lie was ordained Presbyter by the above- 
mentioned bishop, as appears from his letters of priest's 
orders. The next day, September 26th, he was licensed 
by the bishop to be Curate of Blurton, and occasional 
assistant at Kingsbury, Wanvickshire. That connec- 
tion, however, did not long continue, for on the twent}^- 
first of February, 1744, he received a license from the 
Bishop of London to be a minister in the Province of 
Maryland, and during that year he came over. On his 
arri\al he became the chaplain to the commissioners, 
who met that 3'ear at Lancaster, Pa., to form a treaty 
with the Indians. His preaching there is spoken of as 
received with great acceptance. ^'^ It is said that the Duke 
of Bedford's influence with Lord Baltimore, the proprie- 
tary of the province, procured him the promise of a good 
parish. His patron, doubtless, looked fonvard to the 
Episcopate for him in this countr}-. The subject of 
providing bishops for the American colonies was at that 
time ver}' wannly pressed in England. In the Histori- 
cal Collections of the Episcopal Church, p. 141, it is 
stated that the necessit}' of a bishop over the church- 
men of America was now, A. D. 1740, again publicly 
alluded to. Bishop, afterward Archbishop, Seeker 
"depicted in lively colors the inconveniences suffered 
in America, and pleaded with affectionate earnestness 
for a resident bishop there as the only remedy for its 
manifold spiritual privations." The privations were 



(i) S«c Appendix C for Journal of Secretary of the Commission to treat with the Six 
ations. 



tobacco "dax, 11 

indeed great. No one could be ordained to the work of 
the ministry without going over to England, and being 
exposed thus to all the perils of the ocean and 
incurring great expense. No confirmations of church 
members could be administered, and there was no one 
to effectively oversee the clergy or church, or exercise 
discipline. The Governor of the Province, by Lord 
Baltimore's authority, could appoint a clergyman to a 
parish ; but there his authority ended. He had no 
power to remove him for any cause, or to control him in 
any respect. But from motives of state policy no 
bishop from the colonies was permitted to be appointed, 
and the Duke's intentions in respect to the Episcopate 
for Thomas Cradock were never realized. 

• Mr. Cradock 's salary on taking charge of the 
Parish was small. The clergy were then supported by 
a tax on every white male, and every servant over 
sixteen years of age, of forty pounds of tobacco each. 
This tax was collected and paid over by the sheriff of 
the county. It was collected from all whether they were 
Church of England men, or Presbyterians, Quakers and 
Romanists ; these being the only dissenters from the 
church in the colony at that time. The number of 
taxables^ as they were called, is found this year to have 
amounted to 675 — yielding about $325. The parish 
then was a north-western frontier parish. But the 
frontier parishes were in prospect better than those on 
the bay shore ; for in those on the bay the land, after 
having been cultivated for eighty years in tobacco. 



12 Ube Garrison Cburcb. 

was being worn out, and planters were removing into 
the interior. Thus, while the older parishes were, 
in some instances, diminishing in population, the new 
ones were becoming more populous every year. And 
so rapidly- did the settlement extend in St. Thomas' 
that at the time of Mr. Cradock's death the salary was 
more than four times the amount when he entered 
upon his charge. 

In a little more than a year after his induction 
into this Parish, Mr. Cradock was married, March 31, 
1746, by the Rev. Mr. Chase of St. Paul's, to Catharine, 
daughter of John Risteau, Esq., the High Sheriff of 
the county. Mr. Risteau was a Huguenot, who had 
fled to Maryland from France in consequence of the 
Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Strong in- his 
protestant prepossessions, he was so much pleased with 
his daughter marrying a protestant clergyman that he 
presented her with a farm, a part of his estate, which 
would otherwise have descended to her brother. This 
farm Mr. Cradock called Trentham, doubtless from his 
fond recollections of the place in England, where he 
had been master of the free school. It is ten miles 
from Baltimore city, and one and a half south from the 
Church. It was his residence during his life time, and 
is now (1854) the residence of his grandson Dr. Thomas 
Cradock Walker. "> 

(I) It is now (1898) iu the possession of the widow and children of Mr. Thomas Cradock 
(died July |6, 1896) son of Dr. Thomas Cradock Walker. Mr. Cradock was the 
great grandson of the first Rector in the line both of his father and mother. His 
nnnic was changed from Walker to Cradock by act of Legislature, at the desire 
of his father. 



c^ ./C 









/^^^-<-^ U>'Ay) d€.-^i^ 



d^i ) ^ a^.c^n.)e<^ ^ /rJ^ 't* 








i^ A>^ 
















rAC-SIMII.K 1 IRST I'Ai.E VESIKV KKCORD. 




CHAPTER III. 

Vestry Proceedings, 1745 — 1770. 

T THEIR second meeting, May 2, 1745, 
tlie Vestry ordered two books to be pro- 
cured for the use of the Parish, one for 
recording the proceedings of the Vestry, 
the other for registering births, marriages and deaths, 
as was then by law required ; and during Mr. 
Cradock's ministry the requisition seems to have been 
generally complied with. These books, together with 
the book of accounts procured soon after, are still in 
possession of the Vestry and in fair condition. On the 
twenty-eighth of the same month the Vestry agreed 
with Col. William Hammond for levelling the Church 
floor with earth, "within three bricks of the water table 
— the said floor to be well rammed and hardened." He 
was also to floor a part of the Church with brick, for 
which he was to have 20 shillings, or $2.66 per thousand; 
and on the brick he was to lay a floor of pine plank, on 
sleepers of red or Spanish oak — as also, to build fine 
pews thereon; they were to be of panel work. This 
record certainly shows that the Vestry intended what 
was done to be well and substantially done. 



14 Zbc Garrison Gburcb. 

Ou the eighteenth of June they also agreed with 
Col. Hammond, to build a brick Vestry House, i6 feet 
by 1 2, in the clear. The floor was to be laid with brick, 
the roof to be covered with cypress shingles, the doors, 
windows, boxing and barge-boards to be of pine plank 
and painted. For this the Vestry agreed to give 
/^2 4 current money, being $63.84. 

The first contract Col. Hammond failed in part to 
fulfil, and on the twentieth of January, 1746, the Vestry 
agreed with Mr. William Cromwell for building the 
whole set of pews in their church, and to make the 
communion table, rails and balusters around the 
chancel. The balusters were to be of walnut and 
handsomely turned. They were to give ^140 equal to 
$372 and find the materials. These entries on the 
record are interesting, not only as showing the progress 
towards finishing the building, but also the expense of 
those portions of it mentioned, and the cost of such 
work at that time. This was all done and paid for by 
money raised by private subscriptions in the Parish. 
The General Assembly's provisions thus had not 
proved sufiicient. 

On the third of March the church warden was 
allowed 18 shillings, or $2 40, for furnishing the Holy 
Communion during the 3'ear. The fact shows us that 
the Holy Communion was provided for then, as it 
always should be, and by canon is required to be, by 
the warden. 

.At their meeting, July 19 the Vestry agreed with 



BoMl^ IRefresbment of tbe^Destrp. 15 

Col. Hammond, "to paint with red the window shutters, 
doors window frames, and cornice, twice over, in the 
best manner, workmanlike", for which he was to have 
;^ii current money, equal to $29.26, he allowing ^5 
thereof, that is $13.30, provided he is seated in a pew at 
the discretion of the Rector. 

On the seventh of October the pews were finished 
and accepted, being nineteen in number. This may seem 
now to have been a very small number to have filled 
up the area within the walls. But it must be remem- 
bered that these pews were not made after the modern 
sofa or settee fashion, for that would have given nearly 
fifty. They were made, after the fashion of that day, 
nearly square, having seats on three sides, with straight 
backs as high as the neck of the person seated. Thirty 
years ago there was not a country church in Maryland 
but had these pews. 

Little is recorded for some years of any particular 
interest, other than the ordinary routine of business, 
save the fining of vestrymen occasionally for absence 
from vestry meetings, the rather frequent cases of 
administering discipline in case of moral delinquency, 
and the provisions made for the bodily refreshment of 
the members of the vestry on vestry days. There 
were, at different times, sundry duties imposed upon 
vestries, by the General Assembly, which were civil 
rather than ecclesiastical. Such were the nominations 
of inspectors of tobacco, the returning annually a list 
of the bachelors of the Parish for taxation, the taking 



16 TLbc Garrison Gburcb. 

cognizance of violations of the Sabbath, of disorderly 
houses and of lewdness, fornication and adultery. 
All these came before the Vestry for their action, and 
some of them were not a little troublesome. 

In providing, as referred to, for their bodily 
refreshment, under date of April i6, 1750, there is this 
entry : "'Agreed to have a quart of rum and sugar 
equivalent on each vestry day, and as much diet as will 
give the \>stry a dinner, at the Parish expense " The 
sexton was to provide the dinner, and have for it 8 
shillings, or $1.06. But on January 7, 1752, it 
was ordered "that each vestryman and warden, in his 
turn, find a dinner, and a quart of rum and sugar; to 
take off the great scandle and charge the Parish has 
labored under." It was thus at that time, considered 
a great scandal, and a great charge also, and the 
Register, or some one else, has drawn on the margin of 
the first mentioned entry a large open eye attentively 
gazing at it. But, for the rector, six vestrymen, two 
wardens and the register, ten men in all, this was 
certainly no great amount provided for their drinking, 
and the provision was beyond all question reasonable. 
There was then no tavern or planter's house at hand, 
and some of the \>stry lived ten miles distant. There 
was this distance to ride, and much of it through the 
forest, and the busiuess before them often occupied 
many hours But the circumstance is referred to 
neither to apologize for, nor to find fault with, but as 
showing something of the habits of the day. A Vestry 



Ube lase of tbe Surplice. 17 

at this time was iiothiTig less than a parish court, and 
very little of the business imposed upon it by law was 
strictly of a religious character. Besides what was just 
now stated, the settlement of current accounts, the 
providing for parish assessments and the settling of 
tobacco accounts was the business of these meetings for 
many years. The office was no sinecure — it was labor 
and expense without pay. 

February 6, 1750, we find the Vestry ordering linen 
for a surplice, which cost, with the making, ^4. 2S. 6d., 
or nearly $ri. Its use in that day, in the celebration 
of public worship, was common in the province, and it 
was provided alwaj^s at the parish expense. 

In May, 1751, it was ordered that the sexton pro- 
vide a sufficient quantity of water every Sunday, and 
that he be paid for it ^3, about $8 a year. 

In February, 1753, it was agreed and ordered that 
two of the vestrymen of this parish, or any two of the 
parishioners, shall meet any two of the vestrymen of 
St. John's Parish, or any two of the parishioners thereof, 
at any time and place the Rev. Thomas Cradock and 
the Rev. Hugh Deans, then Rector of St. John's, shall 
appoint, to settle the limits and extent of the Run, 
commonly called the Western Run, and that the Rev. 
Mr. Cradock give notice thereof to the Rev. Mr. Deans. 
This shows that the Western Run, whatever might be 
settled as to its extent, was then the dividing line 
between the two parishes, and so it continued to be. 

In July, 1755, there was ordered a large Bible from 



18 TLbc Garrison Gburcb. 

England and two large prayer books for the use of the 
Church, and they were obtained. They were large 
folios, noble volumes, such as the reading desks and 
communion tables of the present day rarely exhibit 
anywhere. They cost /8. 8s., about $22.35. It is 
worth noticing here, also, that the communion expenses 
for the year were ^3. is., that is $8. This indicates 
either the frequency of the communion or the consid- 
erable numbers attending it, perhaps, indeed, both. 

In the year, 1756, the Vestry agreed with Solomon 
Wooden and William Barney to put up a gallery for 
/'53, or $141. Before this, consequenth', there had been 
no gallery in the Church, and the erection of one now 
gives ground for the inference that the congregation had 
much increased. The gallery was put up across the w^est 
end of the Church. 

The period to which we have now come still found 
comparatively few inhabitants north of the Church, and 
the country- was mostly one unbroken wild-wood, where 
the Indians and wolves prowled not infrequentl}-, and 
the wild deer were often seen and hunted. x\fter the 
defeat of Braddock, in 1755, at what is now Pittsburg, 
the Indians passed down this side of Fort Cumberland, 
to within sixty or sevent}' miles of St. Thomas', in large 
parties, for murder and plunder. It created great alarm 
over all tliis region, and it was probablv at this time 
that we hear of those who attended the Church on the 
Lt:)rd\s Day, burnishing their arms and preparing their 
ammunition on Saturday evening, and next da}' at the 



3Bacbelor0 XTaieO. 19 

sanctuary placing their arms in the corner of the pews 
during the hours of Divine service. 

1756. Bachelor Tax. — About this time there 
was an act passed by the General Assembly, in order to 
repay the money expended in protecting the frontiers, to 
tax all bachelors, twenty-five years of age and upwards, 
worth ^100 and under ^300, about 75 cents each, and 
all worth Xs^^o ^'^^^ upward, $2.66 each. And the 
return of these taxables was required to be made by the 
Parish Vestry. Under this law, therefore, the following 
named bachelors of St. Thomas' Parish were returned 
during the eight years of its continuance, as here ex- 
hibited, 1756-1763.^'^ 

1763. At the November session of the General 
Assembly, in 1763, there was an act passed by which 
the forty pound tobacco poll-tax, for the support of the 
clergy, was reduced to thirty pounds per poll, thus 
cutting off one-fourth of the minister's living. This 
act was to continue in force three years, but in each 
successive three years it continued to be renewed. In 
Mr. Cradock's case, however, what was thus taken away 
was more than made up by the increase in the number 
of taxables as the population extended in the new 
"Hundreds" which were created. These "Hundreds", 
it may be remarked here, were much what our election 
districts now are. 

The number of taxables in the parish as returned 
in 1766 were 1522, giving the amount of tobacco for the 

(i) See Appendix- D. 



20" ^be Garrison Cburcb. 

rector 45,660 pounds, subject, however, to the usual 
deduction of five per cent, to the sheriff for collecting ; 
icx)o pounds for the parish clerk and losses b}- failure 
to pay which were always considerable. The increase of 
taxables thus was 847, from the time of I\Ir. Cradock's 
coming here, showing a population of more than 6000. 
The amount of the living in this parish, as returned 
by government to the Bishop of London, in 1767, was 
^191. 7s. 6d. .sterling, certainly no very considerable 
sum for a population of 6000. 

1759. The Church Plastered.— July 3, 1759, 
the Vestry made an agreement with Alexander Wells 
to plaster and whitewash the Church ; he finding all 
the materials, and to have for it £jo^ or $186, and one 
year's time to do the work in. Sixteen 3'ears had now 
passed awa}^ since the walls of the building had been 
erected, and the congregation had worshipped in an 
unplastered church. 

1761. New Roof. — The Church was scarcely com- 
pleted, as just mentioned, when it was found that the 
roof was in such condition as to require to be newly 
shingled. The old shingles were, therefore, taken off, 
and for putting on the new the Vestry paid the work- 
men 20s., or $2.66 per square. This, it is imagined, 
would now be considered a high price, but it is to be 
remembered that the end of ever}' shingle exposed to 
the weather was made circular. It was designed that it 
should be a finished piece of work. 

1763. New Surplice. — In this year a new 



Ube Destrv'3 police JurisMctton. 21 

surplice was needed and one was procured, the cost of 
which to the Vestry was ^5. 13s. 6d., or about $15. 

The Vestry's Police Jurisdiction. — In June 
occurs an instance, in the records, of what has before 
been shown to be one of the duties imposed on the 
Vestry, illustrating what may be termed its police juris- 
diction. Four persons there named were cited to appear 
before the Vestry for keeping irregular houses and bad 
company. In obedience to the summons they appeared 
and were admonished. The Vestry could not, indeed, 
inflict any higher penalty. If, in fact, such or other cases 
required any further punishment it was inflicted by the 
Court of the County Justices, to which the Vestry was 
required to report them. 








CHAPTER IV. 

Thomas Cradock. 

X THE Marylajid Gazette, then published 
at the cit}' of Annapolis, and the only 
paper printed in the colon}-, under date 
of May 5, 1747, the Rev. Mr. Cradock 
advertised to take young gentlemen into his family and 
teach them the Latin and Greek languages, and to 
furnish them with board at £20, Maryland currency, that 
is, about $53.20, in advance. This school was accordingly 
opened. It was prompted probably by desire of useful-- 
ness, for schools conducted by men qualified for teaching, 
— and Mr. Cradock was an accomplished scholar, — were 
rare ; and also by his love of literary pursuits rather 
tlian for adding to his means of support, for, — besides 
liis parish income, which was then indeed small, not 
amounting to $300, after deducting charges and losses, — 
it will be recollected that he was in possession of a good 
farm. This school was continued by him for some 
years. And while some in its immediate vicinity were 
benefited by it, it was much patronized from the more 
soutlieni counties of the Province. Among the pupils 
are remembered Lee of St. Mary's, Barnes of Charles, 



Xlbe IRector's Scbool. 28 

the Spriggs and Bowies of Prince George's, the Dula- 
neys of Anne Arundel and the celebrated Col. Cresap. 
The value of such schools can now hardly be estimated. 
Mr. Cradock was, indeed, devoted to his studies ; so 
much so that not infrequently, when company was 
visiting his house to enjoy the hospitality and socia- 
bility for which he was celebrated, he was known 
to withdraw himself unobserved, and when enquired 
for was certain to be found quietly ensconced in liis 
stud}'. The present remains of his theological and 
classical library show that it certainly presented some 
temptation to such a seclusion. 

During the year 1747 Mr. Cradock published two 
sermons, one of which was preached in St. Thomas 
Church on the day of the Governor's Thanksgiving 
on the occasion of the suppression of the Scotch rebel- 
lion, from Psalm 122: 6, 7, "Pray for the peace of 
Jerusalem. They shall prosper that love thee ; peace be 
within th}' walls, and plenteousness within thy palaces." 
The other was preached, on the same occasion, in 
St. Paul's Church, Baltimore, of which the Rev. 
Thomas Chase, father of the celebrated Judge Samuel 
Chase, was rector, from Prov. 17: 22, "A merry heart 
doeth good like a medicine." Success in this rebellion 
would have again placed a papist on the throne of 
England. The defeat, therefore, of the Pretender was 
the triumph of the Protestants, and cause of great 
rejoicings and patriotic professions among them. Thus, 
in the latter discourse Mr. Cradock exclaims, " Yes, my 



24 Xlbe Garrison Cburcb. 

brethren and fellow-citizens, let ns remember what we 
are, whence we came and from whom we sprung ; that 
we are Britons ; that we are the sons of those who valued 
life less than liberty, and readily gave their blood to 
leave that liberty to posterity. Let us remember what 
rights everv Englishman enjoys ; and that the proudest 
of us all cannnot, dare not oppress his meanest, lowest 
brother. And, oh, let us remember that we can choose 
our religion likewise, and need not tamely, basely submit 
to the slavish yoke of a Roman Pontiff ; a yoke, 
which I hope I may now boldlv say, our proud enemies 
attempted to put upon us in vain, and which ever}' 
honest man would have rejected with the loss of his last 
blood. These, all these, let us remember, and can we 
then be otherwise than merry and jo3-ful, and pour forth 
our whole soul in grateful acknowledgment to the 
Divine Being?" 

On the twenty-second of August, 1753, there was a 
meeting of the clergy at Annapolis, to hear and reply 
to letters from Lord Baltimore, to welcome the new 
Governor and consider some existing grievances. There 
were seventeen of the forty-one clerg}' of the province 
present, five of whom were from the Eastern Shore. 
On both days of their meeting the prayers were read by 
Mr. Cradock. This meeting was adjourned to meet 
again at Annapolis, on the second Tuesday after the 
meeting of the General Assembly on the second of 
October. 

It was on this occasion that a sermon was preached 



B XTranslation of tbe psalms. 25 

by Mr. Cradock. It was requested for publication, but 
whether it was printed I have not ascertained. Its 
object was, from the statements made, to show the 
necessity of an Episcopate in Mar^dand. It is able and 
eloquent, earnest and manl\' , and contains some startling 
revelations."^ 

In this same year, 1753, Mr. Cradock published a 
version of the Psalms. It was a translation from the 
Hebrew into verse. It Avas published by subscription, 
as the notice of it in the Maryland Gazette of that day 
shows; and the number and character of the subscribers, 
some of whom subscribed for many copies, indicate 
something of the popularity and public estimate of the 
author. It is a monument of Mr. Cradock's learning 
and is well worthy of remembrance. For more than 
five years before his death Mr. Cradock attended none 
of the meetings of the Vestry. He was prevented from 
so doing, it is said, by a most remarkable paralysis wath 
which he was visited, which continued till the da}^ of his 
death. His whole body was so paralyzed that he was 
unable of himself to change the position of his limbs, 
and yet his mind retained its full vigor and activity. 
During all this time he seldom failed to fulfill his 
Sabbath appointments, though he had to be carried to 
the church, and then placed by his servant in a chair. 
He could not stand even while ofiiciating, and if his 
head happened to sway over on his shoulder the sexton 
had to come and place it in an upright position. He 

(i) A copy of this sermon is preserved in Dr. Allen's manuscript. 



26 XTbe Garrison Gburcb. 

was a large man, exceeding in weight 250 pounds. 
His sermons he was obliged to dictate to an 
amanuensis, and Air. George Howard, a brother of 
Col. John Eager Howard, one of the young gentlemen 
educated by Mr. Cradock, was for some years thus 
employed. After Mr. Howard's death, Mr. Cradock's 
own son performed that task for liim. 

In the year 1769, February 23, IMr. Cradock was 
called to meet with a heavy affliction, in the death of 
his eldest .son Arthur. He was born July 19, 1747, and 
was consequently in the twenty-second year of his age. 
He was looking forward to the ministry, for which he 
was already prepared and was awaiting the return ves- 
sels in the spring to repair to England for orders, when 
he was seized with a fatal illness. He had already, under 
his father's direction, commenced his work. He was 
accustomed to perform di\ine service as Lay Reader thir- 
teen miles west of St. Thomas' Church where the chapel 
was subsequently built; at a \illage now called Westmin- 
ster, twenty miles distant ; and in the neighborhood of 
what is now known as the stone (Lutheran) Church 
nearly the same distance north. He was long remem- 
bered for his earnest piety and zeal. The^^ were such as 
to gain for him in his day the name of IMethodist. 

Tlie ministry of Mr. Cradock was continued until 
May 7, 1770. On that day he died, having been the 
incumbent of St. Thomas' Parish more than twenty- 
five years. He was buried where his monument is still 
seen in St. Thomas' Church vard. He left behind him 



/IDr. (Ira&ocl?'s H)eatb. 27 

a widow, two sons and a daughter. His widow survived 
him twenty-five years, and died August 20, 1795, aet. 67. 
At the close of Mr. Cradock's ministry he left a 
parish with a large population, furnishing a support of 
nearly $1000 per annum. At the same time it was a 
united parish, having no dissenting place of worship in 
it, so far as now known, save a Friends' Meeting House 
in the north-east part, nearly ten miles distant from the 
church and two miles west of Cockeysville ; and this 
was probably in existence while St. Thomas' was a part 
of St. Paul's Parish, before Mr. Cradock came into the 
province.^'' The number of communicants in the later 
years of his ministry was large. It is a matter of regret 
that it was not then as now the custom to keep a register 
of their names ; but their number is still remembered. 
His daughter was accustomed, in after times, to tell of 
having been present at the Hol}^ Communion in St. 
Thomas' when there were present more than one hundred 
communicants. 

(i) Mr. Allen has overlooked, what he mvist have vrell known, that the Saters' [Baptist] 
Meeting House was built about the same time as St. Thomas' Church. 




CHAPTER V. 

William Edmlston. 

R. CRADOCK was succeeded in St. 
Thomas' by the Rev. William Edmiston. 
On the nineteenth of May, 1770, as the 
records show, he presented to the Vestry- 
his letters mandate and induction from His Excellency, 
Robert Eden, Esq., Governor of the Province of Mary- 
land. 

Mr. Edmiston appears to have been a native of 
Pennsylvania. He was educated at the college in 
Philadelphia. He studied for the niinistr}^ in the Pres- 
byterian connection, but afterward repaired to England 
and was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Lincoln, 
March 15, 1767; was ordained priest bj- the Bishop 
of Oxford, on the twenty-ninth of March, at St. James', 
Westminster, and on the thirtieth he was licensed to 
Pennsylvania b}^ the Bishop of London, under whose 
Episcopal jurisdiction were all the colonies. He could 
not long have staid in that province, for he soon became 
Curate in St. James', Anne Arundel, and March 30, 
1768, he became Rector of St. Ann's, Annapolis. On 
the twenty-first of July he was married to Miss Maria 



XrF)e Cbapel at tbe jforl^s. 29 

Woodward, the only daughter of Mr. William Wood- 
ward, of Annapolis, " a very agreeable and amiable 
young lady," said the Maryland Gazette. There he 
continued till the early part of the year 1770, when he 
became Curate in St. George's Parish, Harford County. 
From thence in a few weeks he became the incumbent 
of St. Thomas'. His induction is dated May 9, 1770. 

Not long after his coming into the parish he pur- 
chased a farm on the hill north of the Green Sprino-s, 
about a mile and a half south-east from the church. 
There he erected a brick building, which it is said was 
intended as one of the wings of a large house, and there 
it still stands (1852), in the midst of desolate, poverty-- 
stricken, sedge grass iields.'" About this time cases 
are recorded, illustrating what has been termed the 
police jurisdiction of the Vestr}-. In one case a man was 
cited before the Vestr^^ for keeping his mill grinding on 
the Sabbath, and also for keeping a disorderly house. 
In another, complaint was entered to the Grand Jur\' 
against two individuals for breaking the Sabbath, and 
not appearing before the Vestry at their citation. 

1 77 1. A movement was made towards building a 
chapel in the Forks of the Patapsco where Mr. Cradock, 
and after him, his son Arthur had been accustomed 
to hold services. Two acres of land were given for 
this purpose to the parish b}' John Welch, and con- 
veyed to trustees, viz: Abel Brown, Robert Tevis, 

(i) This place is now (1898) owned by Mr. J. Hopkins, who has erected a handsome 
residence, part of which is the original house erected by Mr. Edniiston, 
about 1771. 



30 TIbe Garrison Cburcb. 

Edward Dorsey, and John Elder, March 3, 1771. 

1772. The fourth of May, 1772, it was ordered that 
a chalice and paten be purchased, and also one yard and 
a half of green cloth to cover the Communion Table ; 
[an entry on the account books occurs as follows : 
September 4, 1773, paid Gabriel Lewin for making 
silver plate and cup for the Communion ^26. 14s. gd.] 
During this year (1772) we find the first \vritten state- 
ment respecting the Methodists in this parish. In the 
journal of Mr. Francis Asbury, subsequently known as 
Bishop Asbury, under date of November 24, 1772, 
he says that he "came to his old friend, Joshua 
Owings the Forest home for the Methodists." Mr. 
Joshua Owings M'as one of the first vestry when 
St. Thomas' Parish was organized twenty-seven 3'ears 
before, and a vestrvman and church w^arden a num- 
ber of times afterwards. Mr. Asbury calls it "an 
agreeable house and family", and the old man "an 
Israelite indeed." "One son, Richard, was a preacher, 
and man}' people were there." Mr. Owings lived 
north-west from the. arsenal and south from the 
church.'" 

Six years previous, Robert Strawbridge, a Metho- 
dist, from Ireland, had settled in Frederick, near 
Pipe Creek, and two years afterwards built there 
" the log meeting house." This was the begin- 
ning of the Methodists in the colony. He held 

( I ) The Parish Rfgister shows his children by his wife Mary to have been John Cockey, 
born January ii, 1736; Richard. November 13, 173S ; Joshua, March 22, 1740; 
Hdward. November 17. 1743: Michael, February 12. 1745 : Marcella, July 5, 1748. 



XTbe /iDetboDists. 31 

public meetings and traveled as a preacher. Richard 
Owings was probably one of his converts. 

At the time Mr. Asbur}^ paid this visit, and for 
twelve years after, the Methodist preachers refused 
to baptize or administer the H0I3' Communion, and 
required the members of their classes to attend the 
Church and receive the Sacraments there. Thus, in 
June, 1773, at Philadelphia, "the following rules were 
agreed to by all the preachers present : i st. Every 
preacher who acts in connection with Mr. Wesley, and 
the brethren who labor in America, is strictly to avoid 
the administering the ordinances of Baptism and the 
Lord's Supper. 2d. All the people among whom we 
labor to be earnestly exhorted to attend the church and 
to receive the ordinances there ; but in a particular 
manner to press the people in Marjdand and Virginia 
to the observance of this minute." Such is the record 
in the minutes of the Methodist Conference of that year. 
Besides, the}^ held their preaching at a different hour 
from the services of the church, so that their members 
might attend them. And Mr. Asbury held this language 
to the clergy, "I come to assist you not to draw away 
the people from the church." [Journal Vol. I, p. 36.] 
Six years after (1779) stands this question in the 
Methodist Minutes (page 19), " Shall we guard against 
separation from the Church?" Answer — "By all 
means." Such was the decision of the Conference then. 

The Methodists at that time in the parish were held 
to be members of the Church. They were simply a 



32 TLbc Garrison (Iburcb. 

religious part\- in it, and protested against separating, 
and their earnest zeal drew many into their connection, 
while it did not profess to withdraw them from the 
church. There was a preaching house at Westminster, 
then called Winchester, though not finished (Asbury, 
page 34). This was doubtless the first in the parish. 
In the coming year (1773), February 24th, Mr. Asbury 
writes thus: ''I went to J. D's " [John Doughaday, 
who in 1765, '66, '67 had been a vestryman in the parish 
and lived near the Beaver Dam, east from the church], 
" where many people attended '■' My old opponent, 

Mr. E. [Edmiston], met me here, but he did not appear 
.so forward as he had been." We are here shown that 
Mr. Asbury felt Mr. Edmiston to be opposed to him. 
Consequently all the Methodists were found in oppo- 
sition to Mr. Edmiston. During the early part of this 
year Mr. Asbury had nionthh- appointments at Mr. 
Owings' (pp. 40, 42, 43. 46). He had a class there, 
and tells us that " several rich people attended " the 
preaching. 

In this year the chapel at " The Forks " had been 
finished, and October 12, 1773, Robert Tevis and John 
Elder were appointed a committee by the \'estry, and 
/, 50 were allowed them to put seats in a chapel on the 
Forks of the Falls. In the next year the X'estr}- ordered 
a Prayer Book for it, and spoke of it as the " chapel near 
Mr. Welch's." 

About this time the Presbyterians and Baptists 
commenced their services. The former built a meetino- 



Hbe (Siuebec Bill. 33 

house on the Liberty Road, five or six miles west of St. 
Thomas' Church. The Baptists built what was called 
the " clapboard meeting house," about two miles north 
of Reisterstown. 

Besides all these drawbacks, Mr. Edmiston came in 
for his share of the popular odium which was visited 
upon the clergy from their being supported by a general 
tax, paid by all of ever}- denomination. Mr. Edmiston 's 
support from the parish must have been nominally $1500, 
while the Methodist preachers received only about $64 
and their traveling expenses. They did not " preach 
for pay." This was their boast. 

1775. ^1^^ political revolution which had so long 
been ripening was now come, and it found the Rector of 
St. Thomas' not only in the political minority, but a 
violent partisan of that minority — he was a Tory. This 
was enough. Almost the entire population was arrayed 
against the Church. 

Some time during the latter part of the year 1774, 
Mr. Edmiston had publicly approved of the Quebec 
Bill, so-called, and had publicly asserted that all persons 
who mustered were guilty of treason. Nay, more, that 
such of them as had taken the oath of allegiance, as the 
officers of the Parish had all done, and afterwards took 
up arms were guilt\' of perjury. The county "com- 
mittee of observation" hearing of this — for it was said 
publicly, and before some of this \ery committee — 
decided that such declarations had a tendency to defeat 
the measures recommended for the preservation of 



34 Ilbe Garrison Gburcb. 

America, and that it was their dut}- to take notice of 
persons guilty of such offences. Consequently a 
copy of the charge against him was sent to Mr. 
Edmiston, and he was summoned to appear before them. 
Although they were not clothed with any power of 
law, \et as their judgment was liable to be enforced by 
popular violence, and Mr. Edmiston quailed and obeyed 
the summons. After taking two hours, which were given 
him to consider the matter, he returned the following 
confession (see Maryland Gazette^ Januar}- 17, 1775). 
After acknowledging that he had said what was charged 
upon him, and having explained what he meant by the 
charge of perjur}-, he added, " I solemnly promise to 
avoid giving an}- just cause of offence by propagating 
any opinion opposite to the decisions of the Continental 
Congress, or Provincial Convention. And upon the 
most .serious reflection I disapprove of the Quebec Bill, 
as it establishes the Roman Catholic religion in Quebec, 
abolishes the equitable system of English laws, and 
erects a t3Tanny there to the great danger (from so total 
a dissimilarity of religion, law and government) of the 
neighboring British Provinces, by the assistance of 
whose blood and treasure the said country- was conquered. 
I tenderly love my country. I wish for her prosperity, 
and devoutly pray that the present conflict mav termi- 
nate to her advantage =•= William Edmiston." But 
he had alread}- ruined himself with the people of his 
parish, and did not venture to appear again in the pulpit. 
In the midst of the excited popular feeling it was not 



Zbe Uovg IRector. 



36 



safe for him to remain, and on the tenth of September, 
1775, he sailed for England, leaving his wife and 
daughter in the care of Samuel Owings, Esq. After 
some time he sent for his family, and he, himself, never 
returned. In 1782, an Act of Assembly was obtained 
for his relief, enabling him to dispose of his property. 

Mr. Edmiston was a well-educated and energetic 
man, against whose moral character no charge was made. 

The church was identified with its minister, and 
much of the feeling which lent itself to drive him away 
was next turned to the destruction of the church itself. 








CHAPTER VI. 

Thomas Hopkixsox, Curate. 

HE \'EvSTRY was not content that the 
Parish should remain vacant. On the 
third of October it was ordered that the 
clerk advertise for the parishioners to 
attend the Vestry on the lytli, in order to employ a new 
minister, as the Rev. Mr, Edmiston had left the parish 
without informing either the \^estry or the parishioners. 
On the 17th a meeting was held but adjourned, without 
transacting any business, to the 31st, in order that there 
might be a larger attendance. The day came and at 
that meeting it was agreed to write and sign a petition 
to His Excellency, the Governor. The Vestrv then 
were Joseph Cromwell, Jr., Charles Dorsey of Nichs., 
Thomas Bennett, Dr. John Cradock, and John Eager 
Howard. What was the result of the petition there was 
no record made to show, but a note written on a page 
near the end of the book containing the \>str\'\s pro- 
ceedings, signed by Joseph Gist, then Register states. 
" The Rev. William Edmiston left St. Thomas' Parish 
the tenth of September, and the Rev. Thomas 
Hopkinson came into the said parish the tenth dav 



XTbe Destn^ iRenounce auecjiance. 37 

of December, 1775. We had no minister at all in the 
parish for the term of three months." 

The Rev. Thomas Hopkinson, Curate. In the 
records at Annapolis it is found that Governor Eden 
licensed Mr. Hopkinson November 2 2d as curate, with 
one moiety of the parish income ; the other was to be 
paid to Mrs. Edmiston. 

Mr. Hopkinson was a native of Pennsylvania. He 
was the son of Thomas Hopkinson, Esq., who emi- 
grated to this country with his wife, the niece of the 
Bishop of Worcester, and he was a brother of Francis 
Hopkinson, born 1737, the signer of the Declaration of 
Independence. Mr. Hopkinson was ordained in Eng- 
land and licensed by the Bishop of London, September 
24, 1773. He was then a \'oung man, and had been in 
the ministry but a little more than two 3'ears when he 
came to Maryland and became Rector (curate) of St. 
Thomas'. 

On the eleventh of June, 1776, the former oaths of 
office for qualifjdng vestrjanen, and other church 
officers were cast aside, and Mr. Thomas Cradock, a 
newly elected vestryman, was qualified according to 
the resolves of the Provincial Convention of Mar}-- 
land. Allegiance to the King of Great Britian was 
thus actually renounced by the Vestry of St. Thomas' 
twenty-three days previous to the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence. 

On the same day (June eleventh) the Vestry's 
records show that Mr. Hopkinson announced his 



38 XTbe Garrison Cburcb. 

intention to leave the parish. It is said, however, that 
he remained one year from the date of his coming, and 
then returned to Pennsylvania. He was afterwards 
Rector of Shrewsbury Parish, Kent County, (1778), 
l)ut resigned there October 4, 1779. In 1784 he became 
the minister of Kingston Parish, Matthews County, 
Virginia, which position he appears to have held 
till 1788. In the Maryland Gazette of that year there 
is this paragraph: "On the twenty-sixth of May, 1788, 
died in Charles County, Maryland, at the residence of 
B. Kendall, Esq., the Rev. Thomas Hopkinson between 
thirty and forty years of age." He was probably about 
thirtv-nine, and appears to have been on his way home 
to Philadelphia. 

If tradition be true there was no reason to regret 
his leaving the Parish, for his dissipation gave a well- 
nigh finishing blow to the church. Before he left, 
however, the church had been entirely deprived of her 
temporal support, for, by the Act of the Provincial Con- 
vention, in November, the laws for the support of the 
clergy ceased to exist. 

From the time of Mr. Hopkinson's leaving no 
Vestry meeting was held until May 20, 1777, when the 
only thing recorded to have been done was to " adjourn 
until further eynergencies^ There was not onl}- no 
minister in the parish, but there was no \^estry appointed 
for this year. 

On the fourteenth of June died Cornelius Howard, 
Esq., aet 71. He was the first cliurch warden when the 



iFrancis Bsbur^. 39 

parish was organized in 1745, and freqnently thereafter 
a vestryman/'* 

As showing something about matters in the parisli, 
the following is taken from the Journal of the Rev. 
Francis Asbury^ Vol. I, p. 194; edition 1821. '' 1777, 
August 26, T. W. (Thomas Worthington) informed me 
that they had made choice of me to preach in the 
Garrettson (Garrison) Church. But I shall do nothing 
that will separate me from \\\y brethren. I hope to li\-e 
and die a Methodist." This information, however, was 
not authorized by the Vestry, for there was none. Con- 
sequently the choice could not have come from that 
source. 

1779. The next meeting of the Vestry was on 
the sixth of June, 1779. At that time a Vestry was 
elected under the provisions of the Act of the General 
Assembly, entitled " An Act for the establishment of 
select Vestries," passed at its March session. The Act 
of 1692, as subsequently modified and amended, had by 
the Revolution been done away, and both the clergy and 
people of the church seemed to suppose that all was 

(i) He owned a large tract of land about two miles south of the church, and the ruins of 
his house may yet be seen, near the residence of Mr. William B. Graves ; and just 
back of it is the family burying-ground, where his tomb can yet be seen. In 1765, 
as the owner of the land lying immediately on the west of what was then Balti- 
more-town, he added to it that part o\ the present city south of Saratoga, between 
Forest (now Charles Street) and I,iberty, including Pratt and Conway Streets on 
the south. January 24, 1738, he married Ruth Eager, who had inherited land lying 
west and north of Baltimore-town. She died November 17, 1796, aged seventy-five 
years, six months. Their children were George, born March 12, 1740, and died 
September 10, 1766; Rachel, May 5, 1743, died December, 1750; Joshua, September 
29, 1765, died October 13, 1767 ; Ruth, 1747, who married Charles Elder, Feb- 
ruary 26, 1766 ; Rachel, October 14, 1749 ; John Eager, June 24, 1752 ; Cornelius, 
December 2, 1754 ; James, July 8, 1757, died unmarried, July 11, 1806 ; Violetta, Sep- 
tember 22, 1759, who married Joseph West, December 9, 1784 ; Philip, September 
17, 1762, who died Augu.st 14, 1764, and Anne, July 10, i765.who died December 30, 1770. 



40 ^be garrison Cburcb. 

lost, and nothing conld be done by them in any chnrch 
capacity bnt nnder anthority of civil enactment, — and 
nothing was done. Bnt now that the Act was passed, 
at a meeting of parishioners for that purpose, the 
following named gentlemen were elected Vestrymen : 
Samuel Worthington, Robert Tevis, John Cockey 
Owings, Charles Walker, Dr. John Cradock and Capt. 
Benjamin Nicholson. Charles Carnan and Dr. Thomas 
Cradock were chosen church wardens. Four of these 
six \estrvmen were residents and near neighbors in the 
Western Run Valley, in which St. John's Church-in- 
the-^^alle^• now is. It is worth}- of remark that the 
two sons and the son-in-law of the first Rector were 
among the number elected. Indeed, it is said, that but 
for them no election would have been made, and but 
little effort to save the church. 

1780. On the fifteenth of March, 1780, the Vestry- 
empowered Mr. Thomas Gist to la}- the state of the 
parish before their brethren of St. Paul's Parish, Balti- 
more-town, and request their Christian aid and attention 
by indulging them with the services of the minister a 
certain part of the time, for which service the Vestr}- 
of St. Thomas' Parish agreed to pay him in such numner 
and proportion as he the said minister and Thomas 
Gist shall agree upon ; provided, that it does not exceed 
250 bushels of grain for one-third of his time, and so in 
proportion. If the grain offered were wheat, and sixt}- 
cents per bushel was the highest price said to be paid at 
thai time, the offer would amount to about $150, which 



mtUlam "Mest. 41 

shows the very depressed state of the parish in its 
money matters. The proposition showed the reviving 
desire of the Vestry and others to have the church 
opened for Divine service. But Mr. Gist was unable 
to go to Baltimore at that time, and on the twenty- 
seventh Mr. Thomas Cradock was appointed to take 
his place. The application was accordingly made, and 
on the twenty-fifth of April, as the records of St. Paul's 
Vestry state, they granted leave to Mr. West to 
attend St. Thomas', as desired, every third Sunday. 
This arrangement continued tu^o years. 

The following sketch of the Rev. William West is 
taken^'" from Dr. Allen's manuscript history of St. 
Paul's Parish. 

The Rev. William West was born in Halifax 
County, Virginia, August 17, 1737, in the neighbor- 
hood of the residence of General Washington, Mount 
Vernon. From this circumstance grew up an intimacy 
between the General and himself, and their families, 
which ended only with life. 

He was ordained by the Bishop of London, and 
licensed by him for Virginia, November 24, 1761. 
August 5, 1763, he was incumbent of St. Margaret's 
Westminster Parish, in Anne Arundel County. No- 
vember 17, 1767, he became incumbent of St. Andrew's 
Parish, St. Mary's Count3^ 

April 28, 1768, he was married by Rev. Mr. Chase 
to Susan, daughter of Dr. James Walker. In 1772 

(i) Through the courtesy of Mr. William H. Corner. 



42 ^be Garrtson Gburcb. 

lie moved to Harford County, and became incumbent 
of St. George's Parish. 

June 7, 1779, be was chosen by the Vestry as 
Rector of St. Paul's Parish, Baltimore. 

April 3, 1780, he was granted leave to officiate at 
St. Thomas' Church every third Sunday. He died 
Wednesday, March 30, 1791, of putrid fever, which 
was epidemic at the time in Baltimore. He was shortly 
to have married, for the second time, Mrs. Hudson, 
widow of Mr. Jonathan Hudson. She was made one of 
Dr. West's executors in his will. He left three chil- 
dren — George W^illiam, Margaret and S^'bil. Sybil 
married Mr. Francis Holland ; Margaret married Col. 
John Beall Howard. He was succeeded as Rector of 
St. Paul's Parish by Rev. Joseph Grove John Bend. 





\<i:\ . JOHN ANDKKWS, I). I). 
1 iiini a P.>rnait bv Siillv. 




CHAPTER VII. 
John Andrews. 

HE locum tenens of Mr. West continued 
two years, during which time the Vestry 
made two attempts to secure the services 
of a resident clergyman, offering the 
parish at one time to the Rev. John Andrews, then in 
Carlisle, Pa., and again in January, 1782, to the Rev. 
Mr. Claggett, who afterward became the first Bishop of 
Maryland ; but these invitations were both declined. 
But the application to Mr. Andrews was renewed, and 
on the thirteenth of April, 1782, he accepted the call 
for one year. The engagement was to give him $532, 
in specie, for his services — one half part of his time. 
The amount thus stipulated showed the estimate which 
was placed upon his services, and also the increased 
ability of the parish, Mr. West's occasional ministry 
had unquestionably brought about a more favorable 
condition of affairs. 

The Rev. Mr. Andrews was the son of Moses and 
Letitia Andrews, of Cecil County, Md. He was born 
six miles from the head of the Elk, April 4, 1746. 
Having graduated at the college of Philadelphia, in 



44 ^be Garrison Cburcb. 

1765, he became tutor in the grammar school for a year, 
and then took charge of a classical school in Lancaster, 
Pa., where, meanwhile, he studied for the holy ministry 
under the Rev. Mr. Barton. At length repairing to 
England he was ordained by the Bishop of St. David's, 
at the request of the Bishop of London, February 2, 
1767, and was licensed for Pennsylvania, February 17th. 
On his return he entered upon the duties of his appoint- 
ment by the " Society for the Propagation of the 
Gospel," in the church at Lewes, Del., and continued 
there three years, but the climate proving unfavorable 
he left there, and subsequently had charge of the 
churches in York and Carlisle, Pa. There, in 1772, 
June 25th, he was married to Elizabeth, the daughter of 
Robert and Mary Callender, of Cumberland County, in 
that State.'" On May 8, 1773, he was appointed by 
Governor Eden the incumbent of Christ Church, Kent 
Island, Md., but on the twenty-sixth of the same month 
he was appointed and took charge of St. John's Parish, 
Queen Anne and Caroline Counties, Md. The clergy 
of Maryland were deprived of their livings in November, 
1776, and in the spring of 1777 he returned to York 
and established a classical school. 

At the same time that he was Rector of St. Thomas' 
Parish he was also Rector of St. James' Parish, dividing 
his time equally between the two parishes. 

( 1 1 His children were Robert, Jolin, l,etitia, Mary, Joseph, William Neill, George, Eliza- 
tielli. Callender. Kdward and Man,- Benger. 
A vcr>- interesting "Genealogy of the Andrews Family and Alliance, with 
Biographical Sketches," has been cf>n>pilcd by Mr. Robert S. .\ndre\v«. Kast 
t)range. N. J. 



©r^anUation of tbe dburcb in /lDar?lan&. 45 

During the second 3-ear of Mr. Andrews' Rector- 
ship { 1783 ), soon after the commencement of Washington 
College, at Chestertown, in May, the clergymen there 
present agreed to invite their brethren in the ministry 
to meet in the following August, at Annapolis. Th.is 
invitation was well responded to, and at this meeting it 
was agreed to hold another, at which each clergyman 
should be attended by a laj'-delegate from his parish, on 
the twenty-second of June, 1784, in the same city. This 
convention was attended by Mr Andrews and Dr. John 
Cradock, from St. Thomas' Parish, and it was at this 
time that the Protestant Episcopal Church in Maryland, 
which before had been known as the Church of England, 
was organized under constitution and canons of its own. 

At the following Christmas the Rev. Dr. Coke 
(a Presbj'ter of the Church of England, in connection 
with Mr. Wesley) and Mr. Asburj^ met in conference 
with the other Methodist preachers in the United States, 
at Baltimore. Up to that time these preachers held 
themselves to be " lay-preachers " onl}^, and never 
baptized or administered the Communion, but required 
members of their classes in Maryland to repair for these 
ordinances to " the Church," as they then called the 
Episcopal Church, they themselves never having been 
ordained. But now the}^ formed themselves into an 
independent Episcopal Church. And Mr. Asbury and 
the other preachers were ordained b}' Dr. Coke and 
some others. They had also a book prepared for the 
Methodists, bv Mr. Weslev, called " The Sunday Service 



46 XTbe Garrison Cburcb. 

of the Methodists," which was substantially the same 
as the " Book of Common Pra^ver," including in it the 
thirtv-nine articles revised. 

Mr. Andrews at this time went down to Baltimore- 
town and, with Mr. West, the Rector of St. Paul's, 
undertook to effect a union between the two newly 
organized bodies. With this view Dr. Coke and Mr. 
Asbury were invited by Mr. West to tea. They came, 
bringing with them Mr, Goff. " I took occasion," 
writes Mr. Andrews, " to observe that we had seen Mr. 
Wesley's letter to Dr. Coke and Mr. Asbury, as also a 
book entitled, ' The Sunday Service of the Methodists.' " 
He then followed this remark with statements respecting 
the hopes entertained of these gentlemen, " there being 
no real difference " between us ; and explaining the 
plan of church government adopted at Annapolis, asked : 
" What occasion could there be for a separation from us 
on the score of church government ? " Mr. Asbury 
said, " The difference between us lay not so much in 
doctrines and forms of worship as in experience and 
practice.'^ But neither of them would accede to the sug- 
gestions then made. This was written on the thirtv-first 
(jf December. A day or two after the above Mr. 
Andrews called on Dr. Coke at his lodgings, so earnest 
was he in the matter, but found that " the contempt and 
aversion, with whicli the Methodists had always been 
treated in England and in this country, was an effectual 
bar in the way of his accomplishing- what he had 
desired," and thus ended his efforts with Dr. Coke and 



Dtfferences .iBetween tbe Gbnrcb anO /iDetboMdts. 47 

his friends. But these relative differences between the 
Church and the Methodists have since that day 
materially changed. 

According to Mr. Asbury, the difference between 
them la}^ not so much in doctrines and forms of worship 
as in experience and practice. But now, after sevent\- 
years have passed away (i 784-1852), it is seen that the 
difference lies not so much in experience and practice as 
in forms of worship and government. It will not be 
questioned that conversions and lives of holiness, — for 
such it is presumed is the " experience " and " practice " 
referred to, — are as distincth^ visible, if not as numerous 
as is desired, in the Church as among the Methodists. 
But as to the forms of worship the difference is entire. 
And yet, why he who would come to the Father by or 
through Christ should cast aside forms of prayer, 
invariably offered in His name, — and an extempore 
pra3^er is a form to all interests and purpose to every 
silent worshipper who prays it ; why he should cast 
aside the repeating aloud the Creed, in ^vhich his 
blessed Lord is confessed before men, and thus actuall}^ 
preached by every one so repeating it ; — why he should 
cast aside the systematic reading of the Scriptures 
publicly ; or why he should cast aside the Psalms ; for 
a worship subject to the ever-varying frames and ability 
and sense of the individual officiating, — all this it is diffi- 
cult to perceive. And should each go on for seventy 
years to come in these matters, in the line of direction 
in which each has been tending, the difference will be 



48 ^be Garrison Cburcb. 

vastl}- in favor of the Churchman, according to Mr. 
Asbury's own estimate. 

Mr. Andrews, on his first coming into the parish, 
lived about two miles south-east of the Green Springs, 
where ^Ir. Stevenson now lives (1854), and then at 
Poplar Hill, east of the Falls Road, now Govanstown. 
At each of these places he had a flourishing classical 
school while in charge of St. Thomas'. His pupils, the 
number of which varied from twenty-five to thirty-five, 
lived in his own family, and for each he received $133 
per year. 

On December 7, 1784, Dr. Thomas Cradock and 
Mr. Charles Carnan were appointed to employ a builder 
to repair the church. To what extent repairs were 
needed or were made the records do not state, but dur- 
ing the preceding twenty years, and especiall}- during 
the Revolutionary War, the church had become much 
dilapidated. It is still remembered that the windows 
were so broken that the committee had to put new 
ones in their places, and not being able to replace the 
diamond glass in the lower to correspond with that of 
the upper sash, square lights were substituted as they 
are now seen. It seems, however, exceedingl}^ desirable 
to restore the lower part of the windows to correspond 
with the upper both in order to take away the present 
unseemliness and continue the original appearance as 
far as possible. 

At the end of his third year in the parish, in April, 
1785, Mr. Andrews removed to Philadelphia and took 



IProvost, laniversitg ot IPenns^lpania. 



49 



charge of the Protestant Episcopal Academy then just 
established and, subsequently, (1787) he became Profes- 
sor of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres in the College and 
Academy of Philadelphia, and Rector of St. James', 
Bristol. In 1792 he became the Vice-Provost of the 
University of Pennsylvania, previous to which time he 
had received the degree of Doctor of Divinity, In 18 10 
he became the Provost of that University and so contin- 
ued till his death which took place October 29, 18 13, in 
the sixty-eighth year of his age. He was buried in 
Christ Church Cemetery, Philadelphia. 





CHAPTER VIII. 

Thomas Fitch Oliver. 

HERE WAS lU) Rector from April lo, 
1785, to June 3, 1793, ci period of eight 
years and two months; and the Parish 
Records show onl\- an annual election of 
the Vestrv. Occasional services were held through the 
interest of the Rector of St. Paul's Church, Dr. West, 
who, himself, sometimes ofhciated, and who at other times 
provided a lay-reader, Mr. Edward Langworth}-. Mr. 
Langworthy afterward \\as a member of Congress from 
Georgia, but again returned to Baltimore and became 
Deputy Naval Officer in that city, where he died, Novem- 
ber 2, 1803, act. 63. Dr. West died in 1790, but his 
successor, Mr. Bend, took a warm interest in St. Thomas' 
Church, and occasionally officiated. The Rev. Mr. 
Coleman, the Rector of St. James', also extended his 
services to the parish. 

On April 10, 1792, after service held by Mr. Bend, 
there was a congregational meeting, and the pews were 
resigned to the Vestry. In addition to the resolution 
resigning the pews, another resolution was passed 
requesting the \'cstry at its next meeting to hx the 





-VI 



^ 




v-:r- 



^^.' 



THONtAS IIll II ol.UKR. 
Frtim an Old Pi«itiait. 



TLbc ipews IRe^renteC'. 61 

price of the pews. On the following Easter Monday, 
May 9th, the Vestry met and called a parish meeting 
for the next day. The meeting was held, and the reso- 
lutions of April 10th were reaffirmed and ordered to be 
entered on the records. 

On May 30th, Maj. or James Howard was appointed 
Registrar, the first since the downfall of the establish- 
ment in 1776. He was also appointed delegate to the 
convention. The Vestry numbered the pews, and fixed 
the rent on them at ^145, or $386.60. 

The parish continued vacant during the year. No 
clergyman could be obtained to take charge of it. 

On Easter Monday, April, 1793, a letter was laid 
before the Vestry from Rev. George Ralph"' making 
application for the parish. The Vestr\^ of St. Thomas' 
replied that he " would not answer as a clergyman for 
that parish." The vacancy had now continued more 
than eight years. 

On the twenty-seventh of Ma}-, 1793, Mr. Oliver 
brought to Rev. Mr. Bend a letter from Dr. Benjamin 
Moore of New York, subsequently Bishop of that State, 
in the following words : 

My Dear Sir : This will be delivered you by the 
Rev. Mr. Oliver whom I would beg leave to recommend 
to 3-our fraternal attention as a sensible and worthy 
clergyman, of which character I know you entertain 
yV^j/, that is, very exalted, ideas. With much esteem, I 
am ever your affectionate friend and brother — B. Moore. 

(1) For sketch of liis life ^::ee Part III. 



52 Ube (3arrtson Cburcb. 

This letter is still among the papers furnished 
from St. Thomas' Vestry and shows that Mr. Oliver 
was introduced into the parish by Mr. Bend, and also 
the estimation in which he was held by his respected 
brethren of the ministry. 

He came here from Marblehead, Massachusetts, in 
which place he had been Rector of St. Michael's Church. 
Mr. Oliver was the eldest son of the Hon. Andrew 
Oliver, Jr., of Salem, and grandson of the Hon. 
Andrew Oliver, one of the last Lieutenant-Governors 
of Massachusetts under the Crown. He was born in 
Boston, 1758, and graduated at Harvard College, 1775. 
After this he studied law, but not liking the profession, 
he became lay reader in the church in Providence, 
Rhode Island, 1778 or 1779, and continued there till his 
ordination b\' Bishop Seabury of Connecticut, August 
7, 1785, when he received Deacon's orders. From 
Providence he went to Marblehead, September 3, 1786, 
and from there came here.'" He appears from the 
records of the Vestry to have come to the parish on the 
second of June, 1793, and to have ofhciated in St. 
Thomas' that day. He was encouraged to stay with 
the expectation of $400 per annum and a house. On 
the seventeenth of June the Vestrv met and resolved to 
open a subscription for building a parsonage. This was 

' 1 1 While Rector of St. Michael's, Marblehead. he introduced chanting, beginning on 
Christmas Day. 1787. He writes to his father, the Hon. Andrew Oliver, under date 
of Fcbruar},' 11, 17.SS : "Will it give you any pleasure to learn that our quire at 
St. Michael's do con.stantly chant the Venitc, the Te De\ini, and in the afternoon 
the Cantate and the Nunc Ditnittis to just acceptation. I believe mine is almost 
the only chttrch on the continent in which this is done. " (For whole account see 
Dr. Andrew Oliver's letter in Appendix. ) 



©l& jfrank." 



53 



done, and on a paper which still remains, is fonnd sub- 
scribed the following donations : 

Samuel Owings, four acres of land to build the 
parsonage on. (The agreement dated August 14, 
1793, signed by Samuel Owings and witnessed by 
William Owings, " in consideration of five shillings 
current money " makes over to the Vestr\- " four acres 
of land for the purpose of building a parsonage house 
upon ; the same land to be laid off near where old Frank 
now lives." 




" Where Old Frank Ln'Ef*." (1793.) 

" Old Frank," it appears from the records, was 
the sexton of the church, and probably a slave 
of Samuel Owings.) James Howard ;^i2, Thomas 
Cradock £to, Charles Walker ;^5, Thomas Harvey £^^ 
Joseph Jones ^3, William Stac}- ^3, John Bond ^3, 
John Cockey of Thos. ^3; Thomas B. Dorsey ^3, 
and other small sums, in all about $125. With 



i 



54 TIbe Garrison Cbitrcb. 

this subscription the parsonage was at once begun. 
On the ninth of August, it is recorded that at the 
last vestrv day Mr. Oliver proposed to the Vestry to 
engage with them as the Rector of the parish at 
the rate of $400 per annum and a house. His salary 
to begin on the third of June then passed. But not- 
withstanding what had been before held out to him, 
the \^estrv now declined it. They offered, however, 
to pay him $266 per annum, and as much more as 
the pews would rent for, but stated that a house could 
not be ready before the next June. He had been 
officiating more than two months under the encour- 
agement as first given him and now the slender 
offer was reduced one-third. (It is to the credit of 
Dr. Cradock that he alone voted to pay Mr. Oliver the 
full amount which had been originally offered.) With 
a family dependent upon him, his means exhausted by 
the distance of his removal, and now his expectations 
disappointed, no wonder he was discouraged ; but he 
was not able to get away and he acceded to their offer, 
and then at their next meeting, September 2nd, as the 
record is, Mr. Oliver was unanimously elected Rector 
of St. Thomas' Parish, the Vestry agreeing to provide 
a house early in the spring. There was certainly a sad , 
falling off in the willingness or ability of the parish to 
support the ministry of the church. When Dr. Andrews 
first took charge he was pledged $500 for one-half his 
time — now there could be pledged to Mr. Oliver only 
$266 for his entire services. But perhaps it was felt 



Ube Burigino (3roun^ of tbe Croxalls. 55 

to be a sufficient apolog}- that they were building a 
parsonage. 

The ministerial records show Mr. Oliver to have 
been an active and industrious minister. Little, how- 
ever, of the Vestr3^'s doings during his rectorship are 
recorded. The records show that they were annualh- 
elected, and from time to time met together, and that 
is all. 

A letter still on file under date of February 

25, 1795, addressed by Mr. Oliver to the Register, 
shows that he supported himself and family mainly by 
a school in which gentlemen's sons were instructed, and 
were boarded in his own family. Mr. Oliver continued 
in his parish till his death which took place January 

26, 1797. He was buried at his own request in the 
private family bur^'ing ground of the Croxalls, where 
Mr. Thomas Beale Cockey now lives (1852), two miles 
south-east of the Green Spring, No marble, however, 
points out the spot where he was laid. Does this tell 
well of the parish ? 

He left behind him, it is stated, a widow,*" five 
sons, and three daughters. Of the youngest there is 
the following memorandum in the book of ministerial 
records : " Elizabeth Digby Belcher, daughter of 
Thomas F. Oliver, and Sarah his wife born May 2, 



(i) His wife was Sarah Pynchon, daughter of the Hon. William Pyuchon, of Salem. 
His children were Thomas Fitch, (married Margaret Brown, removed to I,oui.siana, 
no known descendants;) Marj' Lynde Fitch, (married Judge Joseph Story, no 
children;) William Pynchon, (died unmarried;) Andrew, (died unmarried;) 
Daniel, (married Mary R. Pulling ;) Benjamin I,ynde, (married Frances Briggs. 
no children ;) Sarah Pynchon, (died unmarried ;) Elizabeth Digby Belcher, 
(married Jonathan Freeman, no children.) 



56 



Ube Garrison Cburcb. 



1795, and was baptized by the Rev. Mr. Bend, June 27, 
1795." His widow and orphans returned to New Eng- 
land. One of his daughters married the late Judge 
Story of Massachusetts, eminent in his profession and 
one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United 
States. 





CHAPTER IX. 

John Coleman. 

HERE IS no record of any vestry meet- 
ing, or of any election of a Vestry, from 
June, 1796, to March, 1799. October 
7, 1798, the Rev, Mr. Bend, Rector of 
St. Paul's Parish, wrote to Mr. James Howard urging 
the Vestry to elect to their parish the Rev. John 
Coleman of St. James. He said that Mr. Coleman had 
then an opportunity of renting his farm in Harford 
County where he resided, and might be induced to 
come to St. Thomas' provided the vestry would pur- 
chase a glebe. Mr. Bend took great interest in the 
parish, and was beyond question instrumental in keeping 
it from going entirel}^ down. He had a few days 
before submitted a plan to the gentlemen of the parish, 
by which they might accomplish the purchase which he 
so much desired. It was a long, clear headed, business- 
like communication. 

1799. The Rev. John Coleman. 7th Rector. — 
The parish had now been vacant eighteen months. 
But urged, as we have seen, on Easter Monday, March 
25, 1799, ^ Vestry was elected under the new Vestry 



58 Ube Harrison Cburcb. 

Act of the General Assembly at its last session, and at 
their meeting, on the eighth of April, the Rev. John 
Coleman was elected Rector. They ^'oted him $400 
per annum from the rent of the pews and the overplus, 
if any, of such rent, with the use of the parsonage and 
property ; to commence on the twenty-eight day of 
April. The Rev. Mr. Coleman accepted. 

Air. Coleman was a native of Bath Parish, Dinwid- 
die County, Va., and was born in 1 758. He was educated 
by the celebrated Deveraux Jarratt, the Rector of that 
parish. Under Mr. Jarratt's direction and instructions 
he prepared for the ministr}^, but the war of the Revolu- 
tion prevented his repairing to England for orders, as 
all candidates were then compelled to do or remain 
without them. In his preface to the life of Mr. Jarratt, 
written by himself, Mr. Coleman saA's : ''I lived with 
him several years under his tuition, and when the 
Governor of Virginia left the seat of government and 
called the loyalists (tories) to join him, many of Mr. 
Jarratt's parishioners, and even his pupils, turned out as 
volunteers in defence of their country. I remember the 
circumstances well, being myself out in 1776." His 
first public service thus at eighteen 3'ears of age was 
that of a soldier in securing his country's independence. 
He was a Whig of '76. In the fall of 1780 he came 
with Mr. Asbur}', who had been on a visit at Mr. Jarratt's, 
to Delaware, " either to take charge of Dover School or 
to preach." — (Mr. Asbury's Journal, volume i, page 
319). Instead of teaching he was earnest to be 



Xeaves tbc /IDetboMsts, 59 

engaged in the work he had chosen, and it appears that 
for a while he traveled with Mr. Asbnry. The Metho- 
dists had not then separated from the Church, and unable 
while the war lasted to obtain orders, with Mr. Jarratt's 
advice he continued to travel and preach in connection 
with the Methodists, and in 1781, he was received as a 
preacher among them and stationed in Kent County, 
Maryland. In 1782 he was stationed in Pennsylvania, 
and in 1783 in Baltimore. In 1784 he is mentioned on 
the minutes of the Methodist Conference of that year 
as having " desisted from traveling." 

In a letter from Mr. Coleman to the Rev. Mr. larratt. 
July 22, 1784, dated from Baltimore County, he men- 
tions " that the clerg}^ of Maryland had lately held a 
meeting at Annapolis, [June 22nd] and formed an 
ecclesiastical constitution," and adds " it is probable I 
may spend my days in Maryland, (there is a prospect 
of a vacancy in a parish here) if there should be au}^ 
way of ordination. Religion, I fear, is at a stand here." 
He concludes by saying, and it is quoted as showing 
what the mail arrangements then were, " if you should 
write to me and have an opportunity of sending it to 
Richmond the stage goes from there twice a week to 
this town " [Baltimore.] 

At the Methodist Conference in Baltimore, at 
Christmas, in 1784, by Mr. Asbury's invitation, Mr. 
Coleman was present. But when the vote was taken 
and announced declaring the Methodists an independent 
Episcopal Church, Mr. Coleman and his friend Mr. 



60 ^be Garrison Cburcb. 

(subsequently Reverend) William Duke, who had also 
been a preacher among them, took up their hats and 
left. 

About this time, 1785, Mr. Coleman married Miss 
Pleasant Goodwin, whose mother was sister to Capt. 
Charles Ridgely of Hampton, and settled in Harford 
County. As soon as Dr. Seabury of Connecticut had 
been consecrated Bishop of that Diocese, in November, 
1784, Mr. Coleman designed to have applied to him for 
orders. With this view he received from Mr. Jarratt, 
addressed to Bishop Seabury, the following testimonial, 
Avhich is copied from the original : " From a long 
and intimate acquaintance with Mr. Coleman, I am 
able to recommend him to 3'ou as a person of unblem- 
ished morals, and whose reputation for piet}^, integrit}- 
and uprightness is well established in this part of the 
country where he was bom and brought up. Indeed, I 
can speak of him with a greater degree of confidence 
than of any other man because he lived in nu' family 
several years and was under my tuition. I can, with 
the greatest sincerity, declare that I never saw au}-- 
thing, or heard anything of him, unworthy of the gospel 
of Christ. But on the other hand, piet}- and zeal for 
God and a concern to promote the best interests 
of mankind have uniformly marked and distinguished 
his character. Deveraux Jarratt, Bath County, Va., 
1786." 

The dela}', however, of getting read}^, and Dr. 
White meanwhile (February, 1787) being consecrated 



Ube IRectorii J£nlarGe^. Gl 

Bishop of Pennsylvania, led Mr. Coleman to apply 
to Bishop White for orders. From him, therefore, 
he received Deacon's orders July i, 1787, and it is 
believed that this was Bishop White's second ordination. 
On the twent3'-third of September following he received 
Priest's orders from the same. 

Immediately upon his being ordained he took charge 
of St. James' Parish in Baltimore and Harford Counties, 
and the next year the Rev. Mr. Heath having left St. 
John's Parish, which was also in the same counties, he 
united that also under his pastoral care. In 1792 he 
was placed by the convention on the standing com- 
mittee and appointed a delegate to the General Conven- 
tion. As a member of the standing committee he was 
commissioned by Bishop Claggett the visitor of the 
district embracing the churches of Harford Count}- as 
well as those under his own pastoral care. In 1795 he 
was appointed to preach the convention sermon of that 
year. He was no\\- thirty-seven years of age. He \\as 
residing on his own farm in St. John's Parish, which 
was about two miles north-west of what is now Fallston, 
in Harford County. There he continued until April 
28, 1799, when as already- stated he came into the 
charge of this parish. 

At a meeting of the Vestry, on the third of Sept- 
ember, 1799, it was determined to make an addition 
to the parsonage — putting up a room to connect the 
main building with the kitchen. To accomplish this 
Samuel Owings and Charles Walker agreed to haul the 



62 XTbe Oarrison Cburcb. 

stone ; Dr. Thomas Cradock to pay the mason ; Samnel 
Owings, Jr., to find the shingles ; John Bond and Joseph 
Jones to find nails ; Nathan Chapman, the plasterers ; 
and Mr. Hunt, the doors and windows. The addition 
was accordingly made. It was stated also at the 
meeting that Mr. Samuel Owings, Sr., had offered the 
Vestry about thirty acres of land adjoining the parson- 
age at $20 per acre, which would be of great advantage 
to the said parsonage. It was resolved to open a sub- 
scription for purchasing the land. This was done 
and the land purchased. Thus, a minister was called 
with one-third more salary than the former Rector 
received, an addition made to the parsonage, and a 
glebe purchased. This was progress, and so far all 
seemed to promise well. 

On the third of November, 1800, it was resolved 
that the pulpit be moved to the east end of the church 
and three single pews be made, [probably in the place 
where the pulpit and reading desk before stood], and 
that a collection be taken up to defra}- the expenses. 
At this time the pulpit stood on the north side of the 
church, directly in front of the church door, and, before 
it, the reading desk. This was their usual position in 
the churches in that day, so that the majority of the 
hearers was on each side of the minister. The arrange- 
ment was calculated rather for worship than for 
preaching ; but a change was now coming over the 
churches. The influence of the Methodist movement 
was making itself felt very widely outside of their own 



Hbe pulpit ^ove^. 63 

class, and preaching — which was felt to be an equally 
prominent part of the Apostolic Commission with any- 
thing else, if not the superior part — was now to be 
made more prominent, and the hearers to be brought in 
front of the preacher. Accordingly, as directed, the 
pulpit was removed to the east end of the church and 
placed in the circular projection within the chancel, and 
pews placed where the pulpit had before stood, thus 
giving room for the seating of some twenty worshippers, 
and additional income from the pews. 

At a meeting of the Vestry, August 3, 1801, a clerk 
was appointed with a salary of $16 per annum. It was 
then common to have a clerk to make the responses in 
the service. This led to a great neglect of the congre- 
gation in taking part in the worship, — as if God could be 
worshipped by proxy. 

1803. During this year died Mr. Samuel O wings, 
Jr. He was often a member of the Vestry. He gave, 
as we have seen, the land on which the parsonage 
stands. He was the son of Samuel and Urath Owings, 
born 1773. He lived at Owings' Mills, and was the 
owner of large tracts of land in the neighborhood. He 
married Deborah Lynch, October 6, 1765-'" 

There is not much during Mr. Coleman's charge of 
the parish on the Vestry's records worthy of any par- 
ticular notice. Things seemed to have held "the even 
tenor of their way." 

December 11, 1803, the Vestry ordered a census of 

(I) For list of his children and their marriages, see Samuel Owings. Part III. 



64 "^be (Barrtson Cburcb. 

the Protestant Episcopal inhabitants according to the 
Canon. The Canon did not precisely require this, but 
the 15th Canon of the General Convention, as published 
by the Convention of Maryland, 1793, did require 
that every minister shall make out and continue 
a list of all adult persons within his cure ; and to 
this the 4th Canon of Maryland responded and required 
the list to be returned to the Convention, as well as the 
baptisms, marriages, etc. 

In May, 1804, Mr. Coleman returned to his farm 
in Harford County, and gave one-half of his services to 
St. James' Parish ; and in a letter to the Vestry he 
writes, " I regret much that the congregation should 
pay such little attention as to render it doubtful 
whether the}^ will not let the church fall in this 
parish." 

He continued to give the parish one-half his time, 
though living more than twenty miles distant, until 
December, when he gave it up. 

March 14, 1808, Mr. Coleman again writes to the 
Vestry, saying, "I continued to officiate from April, 
1799, to December, 1804. I proposed resigning more 
than once, informing the Vestrj' I did not wish to be 
a burden to them, or any other Vestr^^, and they 
expressed a wish for me to have patience and continue, 
hoping that things would get better. In May I re- 
moved to my farm in Harford, but still continued to 
officiate, as I had not given over the thought of return- 
ing, had there been an amendment in the attention of 



/IDr. Coleman's flDintstrp. 65 

the Vestry and congregations. It was in April that I 
began to divide my time between St. Thomas' and St. 
James'." These letters to the Vestry were called forth 
from him by the fact that after fonr years they had 
made no settlement with him, and owed him $500. 

Mr. Coleman continued Rector of St. James' Parish 
until his death, January 21, 181 6, at the age of 58 years. 
He was held in high estimation by the Church, and 
was often called to its councils and to attend to its 
general interests. From 1789 to 1813, when his health 
began to fail, he was a member of the standing com- 
mittee seventeen times. During Bishop Claggett's 
Episcopate the standing committee assisted the Bishop 
in visiting the Diocese ; and the counties of Cecil, Har- 
ford and part of Baltimore were assigned to Mr. Cole- 
man. In 1795 he preached the convention sermon. 
He was a delegate to the General Convention five times. 
In 1806 Christ Church, near Bel Air, was built under his 
ministry. At the time of the election of a Suffragan 
Bishop for the Diocese, 18 14, he was spoken of as a 
candidate, but his declining health preven tedhis nomi- 
nation and he gave his \ote for Dr. Kemp. It was the 
last public act of his life. 

Whatever was the cause that the Church in St. 
Thomas' Parish did not seem to prosper under his 
ministr}^, it could not be laid to any want of industry, 
faithfulness, or evangelical views of doctrine in Mr. 
Coleman. He left a ^vido\v and one daughter. He had 
been peculiarly afflicted in the earl}- death of five sons. 



66 



ITbe (Barrison Cburcb. 



His daughter's name was Rebecca Ridgely. She was 
born August, 1787, and married John Yellott, Esq. 
She died February it, 1853, leaving behind her five 
sons and two dautrhters. 



I 





CHAPTER X. 

John ArmstronCx. 

'CTOBER I, 1805, Rev. John Armstrong- 
was elected Rector. Mr. Armstrong was 
a native of England and is said to have 
been a preacher there in connection with 
the Methodists. After his arrival in this conntry he 
was ordained by Bishop White of Pennsylvania, and 
took charge of a parish in that Diocese. He first 
appears in Maryland in 1804 as the Rector of St Paul's 
Parish, Kent County. When called to St. Thomas' 
nothing appears to have been said about his salary. 
He had some little time previously married Ann Yellott 
of Harford County, with a considerable fortune. His 
ministry was acceptable and successful. 

The Vestry at this time set aside the pew system 
and the Rector's salary was raised by subscription, 
though the amount thus raised is not stated. Mr. 
Armstrong purchased a farm adjoining the church on 
the southeast, and at the foot of the hill built a small 
two-story frame house. 

June II, 1806, died James Howard, Esq., aged 49. 
He was the fifth son of Mr. Cornelius Howard and 



68 tibc Garrison Cburcb. 

younger brother of Gen. John Eager Howard. He 1)e- 
canie a vestryman in 1784, and was ever after either 
vestryman or Register and Treasurer. He was often a 
delegate to the State Convention, and in 1792 a delegate 
to the General Convention. He died a bachelor. 

At a meeting of the Vestry on the twenty-ninth of 
September, 1806, it was agreed that " the chapel near 
Welsh's," now Holy Trinity Parish Church, '' may be 
opened and used by the clergy of the Baptist denom- 
ination, provided they are men of good and upright 
character, and also provided their times of service do 
not interfere with the appointments of the Rector of this 
parish." 

It -was at this time that a scheme of lottery- was 
agreed on and a petition made to the General Assemble- 
to obtain an act authorizing it. The petition showed 
that the parish Avas in debt for the building of the 
parsonage and for the purchase of the glebe, and that 
repairs of the church were needed. The act was granted 
and the managers appointed by the AVstry were Dr. 
John Cromwell, Samuel Owings, Brian Philpot, Dr. T. 
C. Walker, Moses Brown, Kensey Johns, John T. 
Worthington and Robert N. Moale. The letter}- was 
drawn and we hear nothing thereafter of the debt of the 
church. 

It was not till January 11, 1808, fifteen months 
after the ordering of the lottery, that the Vestry found 
themselves in possession of funds for the repairs of the 
church, and at that time new- window-shutters, doors 



IResuination of /iDr. Hrmstrono. 69 

and door-frames were ordered. The chapel was also at 
this time much improved by being ronghcast. 

On the twenty-fourth of October it was ordered 
that the chimney [fire-place] of the vestrv-room be filled 
up. This fact is noticed as indicating the time when 
stoves began to be introduced into churches. In many 
places of worship they were not introduced for years 
after this. 

On the fourth of December there is this record : 
'' The Vestry after taking into consideration Mr. 
Armstrong's address to the congregation on Sunday 
the twenty-sixth of No\'ember, Resolved^ That the Rev. 
John Armstrong, Rector of this parish be requested to 
send in his resignation formally addressed to the 
Vestry." Present — Dr. Cradock, Samuel Owings, John 
Bond, Robert N. Mole and P. Hunt. Absent — Charles 
Walker, Brian Philpot and Moses Brown. But the 
resolution did not pass without opposition or dissatis- 
faction, for Mr. Hunt immediately resigned. Whatever 
the difficultv might have been which caused this 
measure, on its being communicated to Mr. Armstrong 
he thought fit to comply, and the parish again became 
vacant. 

But although Mr. Armstrong thus resigned the 
parish as requested, it was not till more than a year 
afterward that he removed. For on the tenth of March, 
1810, the Vestry recommended Mr. Armstrong to the 
Bishop's '' kind and fostering hand," adding " we do 
with marks of esteem and regret part with him as our 



70 Ube (Barrison Cburcb. 

Rector. But he finding it was more agreeable to him- 
self and family to leave the parish, you, sir, will please 
to give him such recommendations to any other diocese 
as beconieth the character of a clerg^anan, christian and 
friend as we have experienced during the term of four 
vears and a half in the parish.'' 

This letter was signed by Thomas Cradock, Charles 
Walker, Samuel Owings, Robert N. Moale, Phineas 
Hunt, Brian Philpot and John Bond. The offence 
thus on which the Vestry- acted when the}- requested 
his resignation was not so serious but at the end of 
fifteen months the above letter w^as written. The reason 
of its being written was — that Mr. Armstrong was about 
to remove to York, Penna. In order to be received 
into that diocese, it was requisite according to the 
canons that he should present a letter, testifying to his 
good standing in the church, to the Bishop of Pennsyl- 
vania from the Bishop of Maryland. In order to do 
tliis it was necessary that the \^estrv of the parish 
should certify to the Bishop of Marvland that their 
late rector liad "not been justlv liable to evil report 
for error in religion or viciousness of life during three 
years last past." But this was not embraced in the 
Vestry's letter, whether by negligence, unacquaintance 
with the canons, or design is not known. 

The Bishop on the third of May, iSio, thus replies, 
" before giving the testimonial, I considered it mv duty 
to uiake iucpiiry into certain reports censuring that 
gentleuiau's conduct ■'" and 1 shall candidlv 



iJSiBbop ClaGOCtt's Xettev. 71 

mention nu' present objection to giving the certificate 
required b}- the canon in such cases to you, in hopes 
that 3'ou may be able to satisfy my scruples on that head. 
I shall preface them by observing that the Church of 
Mar3dand, under the old government, was restricted, by 
the charter of the then Lord Baltimore, from the 
exercise of any discipline, by which she suffered much. 
■•' ■■■ Aware of the evils which the Church had thus 
suffered on this account, our General Convention 
framed the ecclesiastical Constitution of our Church 
after the revolution ; conceiving that the exercise of 
discipline over the clergy was so intimately connected 
with the future well being of the Church, that in the 
general Constitution, and in the yth article thereof, 
she enacted as follows : ' no person shall be ordained 
to holy orders until he shall have subscribed the 
following declaration, to wit : I do believe the Holy 
Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the 
word of God, and to contain all things necessary to 
salvation, and / do solemnly engage to conform to the 
doctrines and worship of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church in the United States.' 

"After thus making a conformity to the doctrines 
and worship of the Church an essential part of her 
Constitution, a General Convention afterwards enacted 
the 34th canon in aid of the same important object 
of conformitv in public worship. The whole canon 
stands thus : — ' every minister shall before all ser- 
mons and lectures, and on all other occasions of public 



I'J. 



ITbc (Barrison Cburcb. 



worship, use the book of coinnion pra\'er as the same 
may be established, and in performing said service, no 
other prayer shall be used than those prescribed in said 
book.' Now, gentlemen, having premised these things, 
I beg leave to state to you, that I have been informed, 
that the Rev. ]\Ir. Armstrong has on several occasions 
within three years last past in his own parish church, 
and before his sermons there, so far from conforming to 
the forms of worship of the Church, that he has muti- 
lated the service by leaving out parts of it, and interpo- 
lating, ^^ //<^//ww, extempore prayers of his own; 
after this statement of facts, and while they remain 
uncontradicted, I can \enture to leave it to yourselves 
whether I can sign the certificate required. The reports 
above mentioned may be without foundation ; if so, a 
certificate from your respectable body going fully to 
tliat effect would have great weight in removing scruples 
on that head, and might possibly enable me by a com- 
pliance with \-our wishes more fully to manifest that 
high respect, esteem and regard with which I have the 
honor to be, gentlemen, your aft'ectionate friend and 
diocesan, Thbs. Jno. Claggett, Bishop of the Protestant 
Episcopal Church in Maryland and Washington County, 
District of Columbia." 

To this, on the thirteenth of August, the \>stry 
reply — "the Rev. Mr. Armstrong, when rector of this 
parish, officiated in St. Thomas' Church and chapel 
belonging to it. He always made use of the Church 
pra\-ers, except an extempore prayer before and after 



JEitempore pra^^ers. 73 

sermon in St. Thomas' Clinrch. He also diligently 
attended to the dnties of the parish, snch as visiting the 
sick and preaching in different parts of the parish when 
called on, on other days exclusive of Sunday. With 
respect to the chapel, which is some distance from the 
church, none of the members now met were ever present 
when he performed divine services there." 

This, it will be perceived, did not come up to what 
the Bishop desired, and consequently no letter was 
given by him to Mr. Armstrong. Thus the matter con- 
tinued till November 22, 181 1, when Mr. Armstrong 
wrote the Vestry that the letter which Bishop Claggett 
sent Bishop White was not deemed satisfactory, being, 
indeed, a good one but not canonical, and asking from 
them a certificate to Bishop Claggett in the precise 
words of the canon. This was subsequently done b}- 
them and signed by the following gentlemen, part of 
whom were not of the vestry: Phineas Hunt, John 
Bond, Joseph West, John T. Worthington, Charles 
Walker, James Walker of Chs., Charles Worthington^ 
S. Owings, William Stone, Samuel Stone, Samuel C. 
Hunt, Lloyd Ford, and so the business ended. 

In 1818 he returned to Maryland and took charge 
of St. Peter's Parish, Montgomery County, and Zion 
Parish, Frederick County. After remaining there two 
years he removed to Wheeling, Va., and took charge of 
St. Matthew's Parish, which had been organized by 
Bishop Chase, of Ohio. There he was instrumental in 
building an edifice and very much increashig the 



74 



Ubc (Barrison Cburcb. 



congregation. In addition to this lie officiated as mission- 
ary nnder Bishop Chase on the Ohio side of the river 
at St. Clairsville, eleven miles west of Wheeling. He 
succeeded in building a brick church there, 50 feet by 
40, which was consecrated August 18, 1822, "the second 
church," says Bishop Chase, "consecrated west of the 
mountains." At the same time Mr. Armstrong officiated 
occasionall}- at Morristown, eight miles further west on 
the National road, where a small brick church was also 
built in the same 3'ear. Mr. Armstrong died in Wheel- 
ing in June, 1827, ^^"*-ving a widow who survived him 
nearly twenty vears. His son. Rev. William Armstrong, 
was Rector of St. Matthews', Wheeling, for more than 
twent}' years, and afterward became Rector of Zion 
Parish, Frederick Count}-. 




J<J--r. 



Sr THOMAS' PARISH CHURCH ^ 
LOTTERY— Baltimore County. 5 

Authorised by Luxe of the State of Maryland. 

(O- THIS TICKET will entitle the bearer to such Prize as may 
Bt drawn ajjainst its number ii-ithout deduction, if demanded wllhiii 
six months after the completion of the drawing-, 
Jiy order qf the Managers, 

\ Rakimoro Cotmty, l&th. Feb 1S07 U \ 




CHAPTER XI. 

George Ralph. John Chandler. Joseph Jackson. 

HERE IS nothing in the records worth}' 
of mention nntil April 15, 181 1, when an 
invitation was given to the Rev. George 
Ralph " to officiate in the church when- 
ever he could make it convenient."^'* 

Mr. Ralph was at the head of a private academ}' a 
short distance north-west of the United States arsenal, 
about four miles south of St. Thomas' Church. 

On the eleventh of April, 181 2, died Brian Philpot, 
Esq., of "Stamford," in his 62nd year. He was a native 
of Baltimore and son of Brian Philpot, who emigrated 
from England in 1750. He was a merchant and pro- 
prietor of land lying east of the falls. During the 
Revolution Brian Philpot, Jr., held a commission in the 
army, in Colonel Smallwood's regiment. After the war 
he settled at his place on the Western Run, and in 1796 
married Elizabeth Johnson, daughter of Jeremiah 
Johnson, Esq. In i8oD he was a warden in St. 
Thomas' Church, and from 1805 a vestryman until his 



(i) Mr. Ralph was an interesting character, and is the subject of one of the biographical 
sketches appended. 



76 TLbc Garrison Gburcb. 

death. He left three sons and three daughters. His 
second daughter, Elizabeth, in 1826 married the Rev. 
John G. Blanchard, many years the Rector of St. 
Anne's, Annapolis. 

After a vacancj' of nearly three years, supplied 
only by the occasional services of Mr. Ralph, on the 
twenty-eighth of December, 181 2, the Rev. John 
Chandler was elected Rector, to enter upon his duties 
January ist. Mr. Chandler was from England. He 
came into this diocese in 18 10 from Pennsylvania, and 
became the Rector of St. Peter's, Montgomery County, 
where he continued until he came to St. Thomas'. On 
the seventh day of February-, 18 14, he sent to the Vestry 
his resignation, stating that he had accepted the Rec- 
torship of St. Mark's, Frederick Countv. He died in 
the spring of 181 5. 

On the seventh of April, 18 15, died Samuel Worth- 
ington, Esq., aged 82 years. He was a native of Anne 
Arundel County and was one of the first settlers of 
what is known as the Worthington Vallev, 2,000 acres 
of M'hich had been patented to his father in 1740. In 
1756 he was a church warden and subsequent!}' a ves- 
tryman. He was a Whig of the Revolution, and in 
1774 was one of the Committee of Observation. In 
1781 and subsequently he was a delegate to the General 
Assembly. He left a widow, his second wife, nine sons 
and ten daughters, having before buried two daughters.'" 

At a meeting of the Vestr\' on Easter Monda\-, 

U) See Appendix. 



St. 5obn's in tbe lDallei\ 77 

April 15, 18 1 6, Mr. Robert North Moale and Dr. Thomas 
C. Walker were appointed to ascertain whether b}- snb- 
scription, or otherwise, fnnds could be secured to wall in 
the churchyard. This work was but slowh' carried on 
and was not completed until 1832. 

The Rev. Joseph Jackson — The loth Rector. 
November 2, 18 18, the Rev. Joseph Jackson was elected 
Rector to preach every other Sunday. The alternate 
Sunday was given to " St. John's Church in the Val- 
ley." This church is six miles north of St. Thomas', 
near the head of the Worthington Valley. On the third 
of June, 1 8 16, the corner-stone had been laid by the 
Rt. Rev. James Kemp. The church was erected on a 
site of about two acres, given by Mr. Charles Walker. 
The building was of stone and cost $5,000. It was con- 
secrated by Bishop Kemp, November 13, 18 18. Mr. 
Jackson was a native of Scotland. On emigrating to 
this country he first engaged in teaching at " Barnaby," 
in Prince George's County, then the residence of 
Anthony Addison, Esq., the son of the Rev. Henry 
Addison, many years the Rector of St. John's Parish in 
that county previous to the Revolution. In December, 
1794, he was ordained Deacon by Bishop Claggett. 
During the first part of the 3'ear 1795 he was assistant 
to the Rev. Mr. Read, of Prince George Parish, in 
Montgomery County, and in the latter part of the year 
he officiated in Queen Anne's Parish, Prince George's 
County. In 1796 he became the Rector of St. Peter's 
Parish, Talbot Count}-, and continued there, officiating 



78 '^be Garrison Cburcb. 

alternately at the Parish Church and at the chapel at 
Easton, for more than seventeen years. In 1812 he 
took charge of William and Mary Parish, St. Mary's 
County. There he remained five years, and, his health 
failing him, in 181 7, i\ugust 27th, he became Rector of 
St. John's, Hagerstown. He resigned that Parish at 
the end of the year and accepted a missionary appoint- 
ment, and was employed in visiting Ohio, Indiana, Illi- 
nois and Kentucky until he became the Rector of St. 
Thomas' Parish. At the Diocesan Convention of this 
vear he reported ten communicants. It was the first 
report which had ever been made. His salary was 
raised by subscription and he lived at the parsonage, 
but the amount of salary is not stated. 

At a meeting of the Vestry, November 29, 18 19, 
present Samuel Owings, Charles Worthington, Robert 
N. Moale, Christopher Todd, David R. Gist and Thomas 
Moale, the following resolution was offered and passed : 
'' Resolved^ That the Rev. Joseph Jackson is no longer 
considered Rector of this Parish, and notice be given 
him to that effect by the Register." At the time of this 
meeting of the Vestry he Avas on a visit to his old parish 
in St. Mary's. He had no intimation of such move- 
ment ; no charge was brought against him, and but one 
of the Vestry had contributed to his support. We do 
not wonder that when Mr. Jackson returned and his dis- 
missal was announced he sat down and wept. 

Mr. Jackson at once set out on a missionary tour 
in the West, but before a year had passed he died at 



St. fames' College. 79 

Bardstown, in Kentucky, leaving a widow, who had 
become his wife two weeks previously. He must have 
been over sixty years of age. He was a pious man and 
an earnest Christian. He was the intimate friend of 
Bishop Kemp and a long and friendly correspondence 
between them still remains. There are 53 letters from 
Bishop Kemp to him, and 57 letters from him to the 
Bishop, on file in the Bishop's librar}-. In the years 
1809 and 18 1 5 he was a member of the Standing Com- 
mittee. In 1804 he preached the convention sermon 
and was a delegate to the General Convention. At his 
death he left about $2,oco to the Church in Mar^-land. 
This was subsequent!}- appropriated to the purchase and 
founding of St. James' College in Washington County, 
which without this legacv would not have come into 
existence. 





CHAPTER XII. 

Charles C. Ai'STix. 

FTER A vacanc}' of one ^-ear, December i, 
1820, at a meeting of the A^'estry, at which 
were present Samuel Owings, Thomas 
Moale, Christopher Todd and Robert N. 
Moale, the Rev. Charles C. Austin was elected Rector, 
his service to begin the same date at a salary of $350 a 
year, payable quarterly. He was to officiate every 
other Sunday. Air. Austin was born in Connecticut in 
1794 or 1795. After finishing his course and receiving 
his degree at Yale College he came to Mar\4and and 
pursued his preparatory studies under the direction of 
Bishop Kemp. During a part of the time of his candi- 
dacy he officiated as lay-reader in Christ Church, Elk 
Ridge, Queen Caroline Parish, Anne Arundel County, 
and resided in the family of Alexander C. Hanson, Esq., 
then a member of the United States Senate. In 1819, 
June 13, he was ordained Deacon b}' the Bishop of the 
Diocese and took charge of Addison's Chapel, now St. 
Matthew's, Prince George's County, and Rock Creek 
Church, in the District of Columbia, where he continued 
until lie was called to St. Thomas'. He was also 



XTbe Cbapel of lEase, 81 

appointed by the Vestry of St. John's Church hi the 
Valley to officiate there on the alternate Sundays, with 
a salary of $320 a year, making his stipend aggregate 
$670, besides the parsonage and glebe. On the first 
Easter Monday after Mr. Austin entered upon his 
charge of the parish, David Gist, Col. David Hopkins, 
Thomas H. Belt, Horatio Hollings worth, Stephen W. 
Falls, Elias Brown, Samuel Owings and Thomas Moale 
were appointed Vestr3mien. Mr. Owings and Colonel 
Hopkins were appointed Church Wardens ; Robert N. 
Moale, Treasurer, and John Hollings worth. Registrar. 
On the twenty-eighth of Ma}', among other things, a 
committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Owings, 
Brown and Thomas Moale, to examine into the state of 
the chapel of ease in the forks of the falls, and to 
report to the Vestry. For more than thirteen years the 
chapel, as far as the records show, had been utterl}^ neg- 
lected by the Vestry, and used only by the Methodists 
and Baptists who were supposed to have swept awa}' 
the Church in that neighborhood. 

On the nineteenth of October, 1821, died Dr. 
Thomas Cradock, in the 70th year of his age. He 
was the third son and only surviving child of the first 
Rector of the parish. His father took great pains in 
his education and hoped that he would enter the min- 
istry, but he chose the profession of medicine. He was 
for forty years an active vestryman, often a delegate to 
the Diocesan Convention, and a delegate to the first 
General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church 



82 Hbe (Barrison (Iburcb. 

in the United States. Dr. Cradock was an active pro- 
moter of the Revohition, and at the age of twenty-three 
was one of the committee of observation for the county. 
After the Revolution he became afhanced to a daughter 
of the Rev. Dr. Smith, then President of Washington 
College, but influencing the laity to non-concur in the 
doctor's election to the Episcopate, when nominated by 
the clerg}' of Maryland,'" the match M-as broken off. 
The attachment, however, was mutual, and Dr. Cradock 
retained her miniature to the day of his death. He 
never married. He was an able physician and lived 
and died at Trentham, his father's estate which he 
inherited. 

Nothing occurs in the Vestry's records worthy of 
note till September 22, 1822. At that time Messrs. 
Robert N. Moale and James Piper were appointed to 
investigate Mr. David Carlisle's bill for putting a new 
roof on the church. It appears that during the previous 
3'ear a new roof had been put on the church, and the 
parsonage repaired. The bill was rendered for $444. 
Nothwithstanding this outlay, at a meeting of the 
Vestry held April 7, 1823, Major David Hopkins was 
appointed to superintend the repairs to be made to the 
church under the direction of the Vestry. Towards 
these repairs the following sums were at once sub- 
scribed. James Piper, $50; Robert Riddle and W. F. 
Johnson, $30 each; Dr. R. G. Belt, T. H. Gist and 
Mrs. V. West, $20 each; David Gist, $15 ; Dr. Lenox 

(1) See correspondence of Dr. Cradock and Dr. Andrews, appendix 'E." 



flDajor IbopKins. 83 

Birckhead and Thos. Cockey, $io each ; and Dr. 
Owen, $5 ; and the work was commenced on the twenty- 
seventh of Ma}'. It was nndertaken by Benj. Eggleston 
under Major Hopkins' direction. The pews, pulpit and 
chancel were taken down and the floors tak:en up. 
These were all replaced. The pews were increased to 
about thirty and replaced by new ones. The walls 
were replastered, and all the Avood work was painted with 
three or four coats inside and out. The pulpit and 
chancel were hung with new curtains. The vestry- 
room was repaired and the whole put in complete order. 
Such is the statement in a book kept by Major 
Hopkins. The whole cost was $765. This added to 
the amount of previous repairs made $1,209, and a debt 
was incurred of nearh' $1,000. Major Hopkins, who 
appears to have been the active man in all this, died 
and was buried in St. Thomas' churchyard, March 8, 
1824. [He was buried immediately back of the chancel, 
but no stone marked his grave. When the church was 
extended in 1890 Mr. Thomas Cradock, Senior Warden, 
who had been shown the spot by his father. Dr. Walker, 
had the grave deepened beneath the cellar, and a small 
stone with the name and date of burial of Major 
Hopkins placed in the aisle of the church just above 
it. Major Hopkins was commandant at the United 
States Arsenal at Pikesville. From papers found in 
the possession of the Rector it appears that his sub- 
scription paid was $80, and that he advanced and paid 
bills to the amount of $201.97, of which there is no 



84 ITbe (Barrison Cburcb. 

account of his reimbursement at the time of his death. 
The Wastry also owed others on this account, $287.30, 
so that the total debt of the Vestry, with the $444 on 
previous repairs, amounted to over $900. Some of the 
subscriptions which are above referred to were never 
paid, as far as can be ascertained. — Editor.] The Parish 
was oppressed with this debt and with the interest on it 
and with costs of suits to recover until all the previous 
indications of good vanished."* Mr. Austin was com- 
pelled to resort to a school for his own support. For 
fifteen years the records of the \^estry present nothing 
of interest.'^' 

On the twenty-third of April, 1832, the A^stry 
appointed a committee to attend to the completion of 
the churchyard wall, and in 1838 another committee 
was appointed for the same purpose, and in 1841, May 
14th, it is recorded that " The Treasurer received from 
Mr. [Cardiff] Tagart five dollars, being the amount left 
in his hands out of money collected by him for building 
the stone wall around the churchyard." The wall was 
finished twenty-four years from the time it was first 
proposed. The Vestry Record for many years has 
only the entry of vestries elected and committees 
appointed to examine and report on debts and accounts. 

Parish of the H0I3' Trinity. — In the Convention of 
the Diocese in 1843 ^^^^ ^^^ chapel of ease in the forks 

(1) In 1833 the church was attached for I148.48, a balance still due, which was settled 
December 11, 183-5. Thisamount was raised by the ladies of the congregation. 

(ji There is inserted in Dr. Allen's manuscript a printed sermon of Mr. .\ustin preache<l 
.September 12, 1823, before a detachment of the nth Brigade, Maryland Militia, in 
St. Thoma.s' Church. 



diminution of XEerrttor^. 85 

of the Patapsco Falls, in Carroll County, was con- 
stituted a parish church and its parish lines defined. 
At the time when the attempt was made to resuscitate 
the chapel it was in a state of ruin. The doors and 
windows and roof were gone, and the floor had been 
torn up to facilitate the taking of the rabbits which con- 
cealed themselves under it. There had been no service 
for twenty 3^ears. Before that for years the Methodists 
had sometimes occupied it and sometimes the Baptists, 
but now it was only a shelter for horses and cattle. 
But the work of repairing it was undertaken and 
effected at an expense of about $200, leaving no debt. 
The first Vestry- were Jesse Hollingsworth, William H. 
Warfield, W. W. Warfield, George T. Warfield, James 
Sykes, Nicholas Dorse}- and George W. Munroe. The 
Rev. David Hillhouse Buell was appointed Rector to 
officiate one-half his time, the other half being given 
to missionarj' work in Westminster and its vicinity- in 
Carroll County. 

In 1844 St. Thomas' Parish suffered a further 
diminution of its territory b}- the erection of the Parish 
of the x^scension. Mr. Buell became the Rector of this 
parish in connection with the Parish of the Holy 
Trinit^'. During the previous 3'ear the Rev. Mr. 
TaAdor, subsequently missionar}- to Mesopotamia in 
Asia, had officiated in Westminster. Before him no 
church services had been held there since those of the 
lamented Arthur Cradock in 1768. His services at 
that early date lend an interest to the place of which the 



86 TIbe Garrison Cburcb. 

church may well claim the credit. At the Diocesan 
Convention of 1846 a parish church had just been com- 
pleted. It is a beautiful structure of stone, in the early 
English stvle and was consecrated by Bishop Whitting- 
hani on Ascension Day., 

In 1847 died Mr. Charles Worthington, at the age 
of sevent3'-seven. He was the fourth son of Samuel 
Worthington, a part of whose landed estate which is in 
the Western Run Valley he inherited. He was 
frequently a vestryman in St. Thomas'. He was in 
possession of much wealth which he divided between 
his four unmarried sons, besides whom he left two mar- 
ried daughters. He was one of the twenty-four children 
of Samuel Worthington. His father was a grandson of 
Capt. John Worthington who died about 1700, and, as 
shown in his will, gave to John his home plantation 
on the Severn, to Thomas " Greenbury's Forest," to 
William " Howard's Inheritance," a tract near Beards 
Mill and another at ''the Fresh Pond on the Bodkin 
Creek of Patapsco River." 

Februarv 9, 1849, the Rev. Mr. Austin, for nearly 
twenty-nine years the Rector of this parish, died, at the 
age of fifty-four. The next day his daughter, Jane 
Buckler, died, in the twentieth year of her age, and both 
were buried on the eleventh in St. Thomas' church- 
vard in one grave. There was present a very large and 
s\ lupathizing congregation. 

In 182 1 Mr. Austin married Miss Ann Buckler, 
daughter of Mr. Thomas Buckler of Baltimore Citv. 



^be Jfirst Sabbatb Scbool. 87 

Tlieir children were Miss Anne Bnckler, born October 
24,1822; Henry Sanford, February 28, 1826; Jane 
Buckler, April 16, 1829; May Holley, November 24, 
1832; and William Bnckler, March 11, 1838. As 
already noted Mr. Austin had found it necessary to 
conduct a school. During this period he also had 
charge of two daughters of his brother, who made 
the first purchase in Mexico of a large amount of 
territory, which is now part of Texas, and carried 
thither a colony which established the citv of Austin 
in that state. The number of communicants in the 
parish never exceeded the number which he first 
reported. A Sabbath School, the first in the parish, 
existed during man}- 3'ears of his rectorship, and was 
well sustained. He lived to see two parishes estab- 
lished within the bounds of his early ministry, and two 
independent congregations, each taking off large 
portions of the territor}- of St. Thomas'; and also the 
Hannah More Acadeni}-, devoted to the education 
and training of young ladies in the Church. Mr. 
Austin was an active and energetic man, ready to go at 
every call, and under all the depression of his 
parish, and the discouragement he met with, he sus- 
tained a high character for frankness, integrity and 
independence. For the last fifteen years his salary aver- 
aged but a little over one hundred dollars per annum. 




CHAPTER XIII. 

John B. Morss. John Joseph Nicholsox. 

T A meeting of the \'estry, March 3, 1849, 
Messrs. Edward T. Lyon, T. H. Gibson 
and Dr. Morfit were appointed a commit- 
tee to procnre subscriptions for the support 
of a clerg3-man, and at a meeting on the loth reported 
$270 as having been subscribed. At the same time the 
Rev. Messrs. Sprigg, Nicholson, Tracey, Moore, Morss 
and Davis were each nominated to the vacant rectorship. 
But the election was postponed. In order to give time 
for further consideration the Registrar was requested to 
invite the neighboring clerg}- to officiate each a Sunda}- 
that the church might not be closed. The invitations 
given were these: The Rev. Mr. Morss, of Baltimore, to 
officiate on the eighteenth; the Rev. Mr. Davis, of West- 
minster, on the twent3'-fifth ; the Rev. Mr. McKennly, 
of Sherwood, on the first of April ; the Rev. Mr. 
Allen, of St. Johns, on the eighth. On the ninth of 
April an election not having been effected the Regis- 
trar was further requested to invite the Rev. Mr. 
Bausman, of Baltimore, and the Rev. Mr. Lockwood, 
of Virginia, to ofiiciate. But more than three months 



Jacob B. /IDorss. 89 

elapsed before Mr. Austin's place could be filled. 
The Rev. Jacob B. Morss — i2tli Rector. On the 
the fourteenth of May the Rev. Jacob B. Morss was 
invited to the rectorship of St. Thomas' Parish with the 
offer " of two or three hundred dollars per annum, with 
a comfortable and spacious glebe, in a health}- location 
and in a quiet neighborhood." 

[Dr. Allen has onl}' partially quoted the letter of 
invitation. It reads : " To the Rev. Jacob B. Morss, 
Baltimore : The undersigned vestrymen of St. Thomas' 
Parish, Baltimore Count}-, anxious to procure speedily 
the services of a priest to fill the vacanc}- caused by the 
death of the late Rev. C. C. Austin, with one heart and 
mind in unit}- of the spirit and bond of peace (we trust), 
turn to the Rev. Mr. Morss in this exigency as emi- 
nently suited to repair the desolate state of the church, 
to extend its borders, to unite the congregation and 
interest many in its sublime ritual and Holy Com- 
munion (if he can make so great a sacrifice of worldly 
interests, sustained by faith, looking for his reward here- 
after) ; to accept the appointment of Rector for the 
inadequate compensation the Vestry can at this time 
tender of two or three hundred dollars per annum, with 
the chief attractions of a spacious, comfortable glebe, in 
a healthy location and in a quiet, social neighborhood." 
R. H. Owen, Benjamin Arthur, T. H. Gibson, John H. 
Carroll, Henry Stevenson, E. D. Lyon, H. Morfit, 
William P. Maulsby. St. Thomas' Parish, Baltimore 
County, May 14, 1849. The letter of acceptance of the 



90 ^be Garrison Cburcb. 

Rev. Mr. IMorss is given in full in the records. It is 
dated May 22, 1849.] 

It was understood that Mr. Morss was in such inde- 
pendent circumstances as not to make the amount of 
the salar}' material. There was some dissatisfaction 
and Mr. Lyon resigned his place in the Vestr3\ [June 
1 8th Mr. Thomas Cradock was elected to fill the va- 
canc}-] . 

Mr. Morss was the son of the late Rev. Dr. Morss, 
of Newburyport, Mass. He was ordained in 1841 b}- 
Bishop Ives, of North Carolina, and took charge of 
Christ Church, Elizabeth City, in that Diocese. In 
1843 he was in charge of Trinity Church, Pottsville, 
Pa.; in 1847 of Grace Church, Waterford, N. Y. In 
1848 he removed to Virginia where he married Miss 
Southgate, formerl}- of Baltimore, to which city he 
afterward removed.*" 

At a meeting of the Vestry on the twentieth of Ma^^ 
1850, it appeared from a report made by the treasurer 
that the Rector had received during the 3'ear $290, also 
that an organ had been purchased at the cost of $300, 
but that the subscriptions therefor had fallen short of 
paying for it. On the fifteenth of July the}' therefore ap- 
propriated the Sunda}' offering to be applied to meet the 
balance which remained due. 

Mr. Morss Resigns. — On the thirteenth of Novem- 
ber Mr. Morss resigned his rectorship. In his letter of 
resignation he said : "Finding the difficulties which have 

(i) See Biographical Sketches. 



So\m 3o5epb IRicbolson. 91 

attended my residence in the countr}^ to be so great as 
• to make my famil}- discontented, and there being no 
probability of improvement, bnt rather an increase of 
them in prospect, I am relnctantly compelled from the 
necessities of the case to tender my resignation of the 
rectorship of St. Thomas' Parish and dissolve- the 
connection which has existed so pleasantly between ns 
for nearly two years." This resignation the Vestry 
accepted bnt, as the record says, "with great reluct- 
ance" "and the Vestry tender to him thanks for his 
gentlemanly and Christian deportment towards them, 
and their sincere wishes for the future happiness of 
himself and family." 

Mr. Morss reported at the Convention of 1850 
twenty communicants, being an addition of ten. Upon 
his removal he became the Rector of St. John's Church, 
Carlisle, Pa. 

The Rev. John Joseph Nicholson — 13th Rector. 
On the twenty-fifth of November, 1850, the Vestry in- 
vited the Rev. John J. Nicholson to become the Rector. 
Mr. Nicholson was a native of Anne Arundel county. 
He was ordained Deacon by Bishop Wittingham June 7, 
1846, and took charge of Somerset Parish, Somerset 
County. There he continued till his acceptance of the 
invitation to St. Thomas'. Previous to entering the 
ministry he had been a member of the bar. On 
the ninth of June, 185 1, the Vestry authorized the 
Rector to collect money for painting and otherwise 
repairing the church, the placing of a new plain pulpit. 



92 ^be Garrison Cburcb. 

reading desk and communion table in the chancel. 

At the convention Mr. Nicholson reported twenty- 
eight communicants, the largest number connected with 
this parish church for eighty years. 

July 14, 185 1, Mr. Nicholson was married by 
Bishop Whittingham, in St. Thomas' Church, to Ellen 
B., daughter of Samuel Lyon, Esq., whose wife was at 
the head of Hannah More Academy. This was his 
second wife. On the twenty-eighth of April, 1852, 
Mr. Nicholson sent in his resignation of St. Thomas' 
Parish, having accepted a call to Grace Church, Water- 
ford, N. Y. 

In 1853 Mr. Nicholson removed to Texas and took 
charge of Christ Church, Houston. He published a 
number of sermons. One was preached at St. Thomas', 
Septuagesinia, 1852, from St. Matt, xx., 6,7, entitled 
"The Idlers of the Vine^-ard." During a part of the 
time of his rectorship in St. Thomas' Mr. Nicholson 
found it necessary to resort to the assistance of a school 
for his support. [Mr. Nicholson was a member of the 
standing committee of the Diocese of Texas in 
1854-55, and trustee of St. Paul's College, and secre- 
tary of the board of trustees for that year. He 
resigned his parish on account of ill-health July 5, 
1855, '^"^ took letters dimissory to Alabama. He after- 
wards was called to St. Mark's Church, San Antonio, 
Texas, and died there in 1866. His widow removed to 
Mobile, where she died in 1898.] 





REV. C. C. AISTIN. 



RE\. I. 1!. MCJKSS. 





Ki;\. \\M. I". l.tHKW OOD. 



Ki.\ . w . sruoriiF.i^ |().\i:s. 




CHAPTER XIV. 

WlLLIA^I F. LOCKWOOD. 

N JUNE 15, 1852, the Rev. Mr. Chesley, of 
Virginia, was elected Rector, but declined. 
August 22, 1852, the Vestry elected the 
Rev, Wm. F. Lockwood, but it was not 
till the twenty-seventh of October that his acceptance was 
received and the first of December specified as the com- 
mencement of his services. Mr. Lockwood was a native 
of Vermont, but a graduate of the thelogical seminary 
of the Diocese of Virginia in 1842, and was ordained in 
that same year. He immediately took charge of a 
parish in Fairfax County, Va., and continued there till 
he came to St. Thomas'. 

On calling Mr. Lockwood to St. Thomas' it 
was found that repairs were necessary to the par- 
sonage. The Vestry entered on the work. The 
old log kitchen was removed and the west room 
of the house appropriated for that purpose. An 
addition was made to the east end, having a parlor 
below and a chamber above with a portico the whole 
width in front. It was then provided with furni- 
ture, a part [$530] of the expense, which amounted 



94 XTbe Garrison Cburcb. 

to $1,374, was raised at a fair held by the ladies.*" 

Ill consequence of the appointment of a chaplain 
at the Hannah More Academy and the comniencenient 
of separate services and a separate church organization 
the number of communicants in St. Thomas' was 
reduced to twelve. 

The records of this parish show the Rectors and 
vacancies up to this time to have been as follows : 

I St. Rev. Thomas Cradock, from Feb. 4, 1745, to 
Ma}' 7, 1770; twent3'-five years, three months. 

2nd. Rev. William Edmiston, from May 9, 1770, 
to Sept. 10, 1775 ; five years, four months. First va- 
cancy, three months. 

3rd. Rev. Thomas Hopkinson, from Dec. 10, 1775, 
to Dec. 10, 1776; one year. Second vacancy, three 
years, four months. 

4th. Rev. William West, D. D., from April 3, 
1780, to April 3, 1782; two 3'ears, one-third of the 
time. 

5th. Rev. John Andrews, D. D., from April 10, 
1782, to April 10, 17S5; three years, one-half the time. 
Third vacaiic}-, eight years, two months. Mr. Coleman 
officiating occasionally. 

6th. Rev. Thomas F. Oliver, from June 3, 1793, 
to Jan. 27, 1797; three years, seven months. Fourth 
vacanc}-, two years, two months. 

7th. Rev. John Coleman, from April 8, 1799, to 



(II II also appears in the record that the ladies raised I520 by subscription, so that alto- 
gether they raised $1,050 out of a total of $1,374. 



Xist ot iRectors 95 

Dec. 8, 1804; five years, eight months. -Fifth vacancy, 
ten months. 

8th. Rev. John Armstrong, from Oct. i, 1805, to 
March, 18 10; fonr years, five months. Sixth vacancy, 
three years, nine months. Mr. Ralph officiating occa- 
sionally. 

9th. Rev. John Chandler, from Dec. 28, 1813, to 
Dec. 28, 1814; one year. Seventh vacancy, three years, 
ten months. 

loth. Rev. Joseph Jackson, from Nov. 2, 18 18, to 
Nov. 2, 1819; one year. Eighth vacanc}^, one 3'ear, 
one month. 

nth. Rev. Charles C. Austin, from Dec. i, 1820, 
to Feb. 9, 1849; twenty-eight years, two months. 
Ninth vacancy, three months. 

i2th. Rev. Jacob B. Morss, from May 14, 1849, 
to Nov. 25, 1850; one year, six months. 

T3th. Rev. John J. Nicholson, from Nov. 25, 
1850, to April 28, 1852; one year, five months. Tenth 
vacancy, eight months. 

14th. Rev. William F. Lockwood, from Dec. 5, 
1852, to April I, 1883 ; thirty j^ears, four months. 

Thus from the commencement of the parish to this 
year [1852, the year that Dr. Allen is writing this his- 
tory] it has been 109 years. Of this time it has had 
the service of a Rector, wholly or in part, eighty-five 
years, leaving the vacancies to have covered twentj'-four 
years. But these years of vacancy are to be deducted 
from the years since the Revolution, so that only about 



96 ^be Garrison Gburcb. 

two-thirds of the time was there ministerial service ; or 
taking the years from the Revolution until Mr. 
Austin's time (1S20) the parish was vacant more than 
one-half the time; and here it may be appropriate to 
inquire what have been the causes which have hindered 
the advancement of the church in the parish since 1770. 

The first cause, in the order of time, it ma}- be 
affirmed, was the Revolution. Its influence has al- 
read}' been spoken of in part. The Church was pros- 
trated in taking away its revenues, and repealing the 
laws bv which as a civil institution it was governed. 
But the character and course of the clergy of that 
da}' was al'So disastrous. One Rector zealousl}- and 
openly espoused the cause of a minorit}- political part}-. 
The friends of the Revolution thus to a great extent 
identified the Church, — though, as subsequent facts 
show, without an}- good reason — with the English gov- 
ernment, and the friends of American Independence 
seemed to feel that in order to set aside that govern- 
ment the Church itself must be uprooted. Besides the 
character of the two clergymen of the parish at that 
time — whether in truth it was so we have not the 
means of judging — was held to be utterly worldly and 
actuall}- opposed to serious and consistent piety ; and 
that the church will be judged, in popular esteem, 
by the character of its clergy is a well known truth ; 
aye, not only judged of, but adhered to or abandoned as 
that character may be developed. 

A second cause mav be held to be dissent, and the 



XTbe flnfluence ot H)issent. 97 

withdrawal of the Methodists. Dissent arrayed those 
connected with it in hostility and rivalry. It could not 
grow but upon the ruins of the Church, which must 
therefore be misjudged and misunderstood. But it must 
be remembered that up to Christmas, 1784, the Metho- 
dists were held to be simpl}^ a portion of and a party in 
the Church, and popularly supposed to have all the 
religion in it. The}' were unquestionabh^ earnest and 
zealous. Their withdrawal therefore was productive of 
evil to the Church. But it may fairly be questioned 
whether the alleged causes for withdrawing were 
really sufficient for their so doing, and also whether 
the actual privileges and advantages they desired 
were not to be found in the Church. There was 
nothing in its government or laws to prevent lay 
preaching within due regulations — as their having so 
long practised it fully shows — and ministerial orders 
might in due time doubtless have been obtained. And 
it is seriousl}' doubted whether the}- have gained 
as much or done as much good by their with- 
drawing as they would b}- having continued where 
they were. 

A third cause to be mentioned is the many years 
of vacanc}' in the rectorship in the forty-four years suc- 
ceeding the Revolution — being more than one-half of 
them. Much is lost in a single year's vacancy which 
can never be regained. In some it produces dis- 
couragement ; some it leaves to wander awa}^ ; and in all 
it tends to an undervaluing and a habit of disregarding 



98 Il^be Garrison Cburcb. 

the ordinances of religion, especially the Sabbath and 
public worship of God. 

A fourth cause is found in the Rector's being from 
necessity engaged in secular teaching. Of the eleven 
Rectors subsequent to the Revolution four were thus 
engaged, perhaps more, and these held the parish 
thirty-seven out of seventy-six years of that time — nay, 
thirty-seven out of the fifty-four years that the parish 
had Rectors. Now it is well known that all the time 
and labor given to this employment is just so much 
time and labor taken away from the parish. To the 
parish therefore it is a clear loss. 

A fifth cause to be noted is the frequent changes 
of the other Rectors. Three out of seven had the par- 
ish only one year each, and two others onl}^ about one 
and a-half 3- ears each. Frequent changes are disas- 
trous to any parish. 

A sixth cause is found in the want of a proper in- 
terest in the Church by the lait}- and in the efficiency of 
earnest piety. God has shown us by His Word that He 
giveth increase to His Church just in proportion to the 
efficient labor of each and every part of it. When, 
therefore, its members through want of interest or 
piety are inactive, failing thus to do their part, it is a 
ban to God's blessing. One man can never do the work 
of ten or fifty, and if they do not their proportion it 
must go undone, and 3-et, ordinarily, the harvest will be 
in proportion to the labor bestowed. 

A seventh cause perhaps had its influence also — 



Ube Urue Estimate of tbe Clergp. 99 

that is the want of popularity in a number of the Rec- 
tors. This comes generally from judging of ministers 
by a false standard. The true standard is their indus- 
tr}^, piety and faithfulness. If these are not wanting — 
and that they were wanting in the Rectors of St. Thomas' 
has never been asserted— then unpopularity arising 
from other causes is unjust in most cases, and is just so 
much concession to the world, a turning away from a 
right dependence on the Great Head of the Church 
Himself. 

One other cause [eighth) to be mentioned is a want 
of a proper estimate of the clerical office and the insuf- 
ficient support given to it. There is often no doubt a 
want of the proper appreciation of the individual min- 
ister. His learning is not appreciated by those who 
have it not themselves, nor are his talents, his piety, 
his general character, standing or reputation, and he 
is, of course, by all such personally undervalued. But 
what is here affirmed is of his office and the support 
given it. It is overlooked that it is an office given the 
Church by the Son of God Himself, and that he that 
despiseth it despiseth Him who gave it. It is over- 
looked that the want of a proper estimate or support 
reflects back directly upon our blessed Lord. 

It may be interesting to look at the Church now 
[1852] in what was St. Thomas' Parish in 1770 when 
the Rev. Mr. Cradock left it. Then there was St. 
Thomas' Church with communicants more than 100, 
now — 



100 TLbc (Barrison (Iburcb. 

St. Thomas' Parish, Rev. \Vm. F. Lockwood, Rector. 

1. St. Thomas' Church, coiinniinicants ... 12 
Holy Trinity Parish, Rev. Tliomas J. Wyatt, Rec- 
tor, having : 

2. Holy Trinity Church and \ 

3. St. Barnabas' Chapel, at .- communicants . 25 

Sykesville, ^ 

A.scension Parish, Rev. Oliver S. Prescott, Rector, 
having : 

4. Church of the Ascension, Westminster, 

communicants 10 

Western Run Parish, Rev. Ethan Allen, Rector, 
having : 

5. St. John's Church in the 

Valle}' and 

6. Montrose Chapel ( F. An- 

derson, Esq.) 

7. Sherwood Chapel, Re\-. Cyrus W^aters, Rector 24 

8. St. Michael's Church, at the Hannah More 

Academy, Rev. Arthur J. Rich, M. D., 
Rector 17 

9. Church of the Holy Communion (S. Nor- 

ris, Esq.) 



I communicants . 10 



Total 98 

There are thus nine places of worship, with six 
clergymen and uinet^-eight communicants, where 
eighty-two years ago there was only one clergyman of 
the Church and one place of public worship, though 



'*ifortg l^ears to Come!" 101 

with more than lOO communicants ; and that notwith- 
standing all the discouragements and obstacles which 
have been looked at in passing along. 

But go back only forty years, to 1814, then there 
was one church, one chapel in ruins, and it is not 
known that there were any communicants ; fi\'e years 
afterward there were only ten. 

Now with so many ministers, so many churches 
and so many communicants what may not be antici- 
pated in forty years to come ! 

END OF DR. ETHAN AI^I^EN'S MANUSCRIPT. 



part II 



1852-1898 



Tile "fort^■ years to come," which Dr. Ethan Allen 
prophesied wonld bring brighter days for the parish, 
have passed; the Historian, the Rector, the X'^estry of 
1852 have all gone from Garrison Forest. The last to 
leave of that goodly company was Thomas Cradock, 
then the 3'oungest vestr3'man, who for fort3'-fonr years 
afterward served with unwearied faithfulness and love 
the Church of his forefathers. 

They have all gone and the concluding pages of 
this book must be written bv another hand to record 
their part in fulfilling the prophecy of that day. 




CHAPTER XV. 

Repairs and Improvements. 

HE VESTRY records of 1853 are occupied 
with the successive reports of the commit- 
tee on improving the rectory and rais- 
ing necessary funds. Among the names 
which appear as generous helpers are Julia Howard, 
Mrs. James Howard, Mrs. Stevenson and Mrs. Boyle. 
The Vestr}^ "mentions with commendation the noble 
and disinterested exertions of Wm. Norris, Esq., who, 
though not a member of the parish, collected and paid 
over the handsome sum of $152." It was in this year 
that Rev. A. J. Rich gave notice of his purpose to 
appl}^ to the Convention for permission to build a chapel 
at Hannah More Academy (St. Michaels) which pur- 
pose the Vestr}' instructed its delegates to resist. 

As indicating one of the contentions of that year 
the resolution appears on the minutes, "That this 
Vestry approve of the course of Dr. Johns in preaching 
in the Eutaw Street (Methodist) Church and that our 
delegates be and are hereby instructed to support him 
therein." The second volume of Vestrj- proceedings 
closes April i, 1854, with the resolution that "the 



106 XTbe Garrison Cburcb. 

thanks of this Vestry be presented to Dr. Thomas 
Walker for the beautiful step which he has purchased 
and caused to be laid at the front door of the church." 

The new record book opens January i, 1855, and 
the first entry, evidently proceeding from a ph3^sician, 
(Dr. Councilman) reads as follows: "As the venerable 
old stove which has so long occupied a situation in the 
aisle shows decided symptoms of decrepitude and old 
age ; and, besides the numerous cracks in its plate and 
sides, has already parted with its diaphragm, it becomes 
necessary to provide a substitute, Thomas Cradock is 
appointed to make the necessar}- inquiries as to a coal 
stove." 

September 21, 1858, there is a minute of the death 
of Richard H. Owen which records "with gratitude the 
livel}' and deep interest our deceased associate ever 
manifested for the prosperit}^ of this Church," and 
eulogizes "the man}- social and Christian virtues which 
endeared him to us." In the register of burials there 
is this entr}' : "Died in Baltimore, at his nephew's, R. 
F. Maynard, on the eighteenth of September, 1858, R. 
H. Owen, in the eighty-second year of his age. He 
was buried in the church3'ard of St. Thomas', on the 
twentieth, by the Rector of this church. He was a 
devoted member and communicant of St. Thomas' for 
more than fort3'-five 3'ears and for man3^ 3'ears an active 
and efficient vestryman, warden and treasurer of the 
same, and also a devoted friend of the Rector. (Signed) 
W. F. Lockwood." He was delegate to the Diocesan 



H)r. Barnes 3P. fllba^nart). 107 

Convention continuously from 1844 to 1858. Mr. 
Owen lived at "Plinhimmon," about a mile west of 
where McDonogh School is now located. He was a 
bachelor and his two sisters lived with him. One of 
these sisters was a widow, Mrs. Maynard, whose hus- 
band had died when her son, Richard F. Maynard, 
(whose name will appear again) was only two years old. 
Mr. Owen is still remembered (1898) for his courteous 
manners as well as for his gentleness and goodness. 

The next entr}' outside the routine of elections and 
treasurer's reports is the minute on August 12, 1861, 
of the death (June 8, 1861) of Dr. James F. Maynard, 
"a firm and efficient friend of the Church." The Rec- 
tor in his record speaks of him as "a man of intelli- 
gence, of pious education, a great and most valuable 
friend of the Rector." His kind disposition toward the 
Church was faithfully carried out by his brother and 
executor, Mr. Richard F. Maynard, who succeeded him 
as a member of the Vestry. The much-needed vestry- 
room was built as a memorial of him. One thousand 
dollars was also presented from his estate, "the interest 
of which was to be expended for keeping in order the 
church grounds." The legacy of four thousand dollars 
was also received from the same estate "the interest 
thereof to be appropriated to the support of indigent 
students at the x^lexandria Theological Seminary" and 
the Vestry was empowered by Act of Legislature, 1868, 
to accept the trust for this purpose. Dr. Maynard in 
this way made for himself a most enduring memorial 



108 XTbe Garrison Cburcb. 

in the parish ; and for more than thirty years the interest 
of this fund has supported one student each year at the 
seminary, and there are many men in the ministry of , 
the Church now who were enabled to pursue their 
necessary studies by this beneficent gift; and the 
good work goes on. There have been few legacies to 
Church work in this parish, and Dr. Maynard's is the 
largest. 

This chapter seems chiefly occupied with the 
record of death, and one honored name must be added. 
Mr. Edward D. Lyon died February 8, 1865. He was 
a communicant, a member of the Vestry for about 
twent}' years, the treasurer for six years, and delegate 
to the Convention for about the same time. 

At a meeting in June, 1869, it was determined to 
collect money to repair the church. These repairs 
were quite extensive, and cost, according to an entry, 
April 10, 187 1, 53,049. This included the replacing of 
the picturesque old hip-roof by a sharp-pitched roof, 
which changed the appearance of the exterior of the 
church. If the architect's plan of a tower had been 
carried out, the proportions and lines would have been 
better, but this was not accomplished. On September 
7, 1873, the Rector appointed a committee to decide the 
most suitable wa}- of spending a sum of money given 
for the improvement of the church. It was decided to 
more "thoroughly warm and ventilate the church ; to 
build a carriage-shed ; and also to estimate the cost of 
building a buttressed tower as shown iu the original 



XTbe pipe ©roan. 109 

drawing for repairing the church ; also the cost of the 
latter with a gallery." 

At the Easter-Monday meeting of the Vestry in 
1874 Mr. Samuel M. Shoemaker offered to give a pipe 
organ, which was gratefully accepted, and a committee 
appointed to build "an addition to the church on the 
left of the chancel to contain the new instrument." B\- 
the "left of the chancel" the Vestry intended the north 
side and a room corresponding to the vestryroom on 
the south side was accordingly built. These rooms 
disappeared in the improvements of 1890 when the 
transepts were built and the chancel enlarged. 

The gift of the sweet-toned organ was a beautiful 
gift and has from that time until the present greatly 
helped the services in the old church. 




CHAPTER XVI. 

St. Mark's-on-the-Hill. 

L\Y 31, 1874, marks the first movement in 
the Vestrv toward the recognition of the 
work which had begun in the neighbor- 
hood of Pikesville, and which afterward 
developed into the Church of St. Mark's-on-the-Hilh 
A committee was appointed on motion of Mr. C. Mor- 
ton Stewart, consisting of Messrs. Cradock, Rogers, 
Maynard, Wood and Harrison "to raise funds to build 
or provide a chapel at Pikesville, which chapel, its man- 
agement and affairs, shall be under the sole and exclu- 
sive control of the Vestry of St. Thomas' Parish ; that 
evening service ma}- be held there throughout the vear 
and morning service at such seasons as may be deemed 
advisable by the Rector of St. Thomas' Parish ; also, 
that an assistant be provided whose dut}- it shall be to 
assist at divine worship at St. Thomas' Church ever}- 
Sundaj" morning and to conduct the services at Pikes- 
ville in the evening." Mr. Stewart was added to the 
committee. 

A week later the committee reported : " First, That 
the Rector's salary be increased to $850." (The 



TTbe Cburcb Xane /IDacaeami3e&. m 

average salary for several years had not exceeded $650.) 

"Second, That until the purchase or erection of a 
chapel be completed ; or until an Assistant Rector be 
chosen, it is deemed inexpedient to raise the question 
of the salary of said assistant." 

The next Sunday, June 14th, the committee ap- 
pointed to negotiate the purchase of the Methodist 
chapel at Pikesville reported that the owner estimated its 
value at $4,200, a price which they considered too high. 

On Sunda}^, June 21st, the committee again reported 
and were directed to accept the terms. Mr. Chas. K. 
Harrison was authorized to open books of subscription 
to raise the required amount. The Vestr}- records do 
not show the result of all this effort, nor the names of 
the subscribers, nor the fact that at this time and for 
several years there were assistant ministers appointed. 

Easter Monda}', April 2, 1877, Messrs. Cradock 
and Maynard, who had been previously appointed as a 
committee " to raise mone}' and construct a turnpike 
from the Reisterstown Road to the Garrison Church," 
reported " the total subscriptions in cash and labor for 
that purpose to be $1,661.30, and the total amount ex- 
pended to date $1,636.06, leaving a balance of $25.24," 
which the committee was ordered to use when necessar}' 
in repairing the road. The value of this improvement 
cannot be too highly appreciated. Up to this time there 
were often days in the winter and early spring when 
the church was almost inaccessible on account of the 
wretched roads. 



112 Ubc Garrison (Iburcb. 

It was probably this year that the parish school- 
house was built, though there is nothing in the records 
to show it. The first notice of it is the minute, Octo- 
ber I, 1878, that " The claim of Hopkins and Marshall 
($406.10) for repairs done to schoolhouse in conse- 
quence of storm was read to the Yestr}'. Claim denied 
on ground that the work had not been well done origi- 
nally, and that said repairs were done without sanction 
of the Vestr}'," 

The suit of the builders resulted in a judgment 
against the church in 1882 for about $525, and was paid 
out of a legac}' of Mr. Cardiff Tagart. 

In Januar}', 1879, the Rev. W. Strother Jones was 
invited to become the assistant to the Rector, and on 
Aipril I, 1879, he was regularl}- elected the assistant 
minister at a salar}- of $800 a 3'ear. At a meeting of 
the Vestr}', October 10, 1880, Mr. Charles Morton 
Stewart " spoke of the offer of Mr. John N. Carroll to 
give a bell in case a tower was erected, and reported 
favorable progress toward obtaining the funds necessary 
to build it. The cost was estimated at $1,700 and he 
had $1,250 in hand. The proposition to build this 
tower had been previously- accepted, and the matter was 
left in Mr. Stewart's hands." 

April 3, 1883, there is the following minute : "The 
Rev. William F. Lockwood, for many \'ears Rector of 
this church, died after a lingering illness at the rectorv, 
on the first inst., and was buried in his family lot this 
evening ; a number of clergymen officiating and a large 



M. Strotber 5ones. 113 

concourse of people being present." Immediately after 
the service a meeting of the Vestry- took place in the 
church, and resolutions of sympathy Avith the bereaved 
family were adopted, and the use of the rectory tendered 
them for the ensuing year. 

Thus ended the longest rectorate of St. Thomas' 
Parish, extending over thirty years. Mr. Lockwood was 
highly beloved and respected, and was an excellent 
preacher. His stipend was insufficient, and it was 
necessar}^ for him to keep a school, b}^ which he sup- 
ported and educated his children. For nearly ten years 
before his death his health was not equal to the per- 
formance of all his parochial work, and the Vestry pro- 
vided an assistant. Among those who served the 
Church in this capacity were : Rev. William A. Alrich, 
now Rector of St. George's Parish, Spesutia, Md.; Rev. 
Charles C. Randolph, now Rector of Botetourt Parish, 
Virginia, and Rev. W. Strother Jones, who, on his death, 
was chosen Rector. 

Mr. Jones is a grandson of Chief Justice Marshall, 
and was born on the estate "Oak Hill," of the Chief 
Justice, in Fauquier County, Va., in 1853. He was 
educated at Winchester, and pursued his collegiate 
studies at Washington and Lee University, and took the 
theological course at the seminary near Alexandria. 
He was ordained by Bishop Whittle as Deacon in 1876, 
and as priest in 1877. His first parish was Emmanuel, 
Casaanova, Fauquier County, Va., from which parish 
he came to Garrison Forest. 



114 Xlbe Garrison Gburcb. 

The records of 1884 show the beginning of the 
movement for enlarging of the church. There were 
various propositions, but nothing was done, and the 
death of Mr. Samuel M. Shoemaker, June i, 1884, whose 
liberality and deep interest had been an inspiration of 
progress, prevented the early consummation of this pur- 
pose. Mr. Samuel Moor Shoemaker was born June 
28, 182 1, at Ba3'on La Foruche, La. He was baptized 
in this parish, as the records show, in 1823, ^Y Rev. 
Mr. Austin. The record reads, " Samuel Moor, born 
June 28, 182 1, son of Samuel E. and Sally Shoemaker; 
baptized September 14, 1823, by Mr. Austin." 

Mr. Shoemaker was educated at Lafayette College. 
December 28, 1853, he married Augusta Chambers, 
daughter of Judge John B. Eccleston of Kent County, 
Md. He engaged in the transportation business, and 
when Mr. Adams and his associates extended their 
business as far as Philadelphia they found the "Sanford 
& Shoemaker Express" running between that point 
and Baltimore. A combination was made and "Adams 
Co.'s Express" was formed, which was afterwards made 
the "Adams Express Co." Mr. Shoemaker was, from 
the beginning, one of the most active members of the 
Board of Managers, and for a number of years Vice 
President of the company. 

He was a vestr^-man of the parish from i870-'73 
and from i88o-'84. 

In the record of deaths the Rector at that time 
made the entry, " Mr. Shoemaker was a sincere 



flbv. Bones IResions. 115 

Christian. For several years he had been a com- 
municant and an active vestryman." 

Another useful and honored vestryman, Mr. 
Alexander Riddell, died January 2, 1885. 

The Vestry this year, 1885, undertook to provide 
for the better heating of the church in winter by dig- 
ging a small cellar in which a furnace was placed. 

For the first time in the history of the parish the 
Bishop (the Rt. Rev. Wm. Paret) was present at a meet- 
ing of the Vestry, January- 14, 1886, and spoke of the 
insufficiency of the Rector's stipend and it was there- 
upon resolved to increase it by the sum of $200, making 
it $1,000, beginning March ist. The Vestry records for 
several 3-ears show nothing of general interest. 

September 14, 1S88, the Rev. W. Strother Jones 
resigned as Rector and the Vestr\^ expressed "their 
regret at the severance of the pleasant relations which 
had existed between him and them for the past eight 
years." 

The Vestr}- proceedings cannot be taken as anj' 
fair indication of the faithful work of Mr. Jones. The 
baptisms and confirmations are a better index of his 
labors, and the parish school which he started for poor 
children, and the growth of the Sunday School tell the 
storj' of his earnest efforts. 

His ministry in this parish, both as the assistant 
minister and as Rector, was marked with energy and 
faithfulness. Upon resigning St. Thomas' Parish he 
became the Rector of St. Paul's Church, Fairfield, 



116 



Zbc Garrison Cburcb. 



Conn., where he remained until 1896, whence he was 
called to St. Michael's Church, Trenton, N. J., w^here 
lie is now Rector (1898). He received the honorary 
degree of Doctor in Divinity, 1894, Washington and 
Lee University, Lexington, Va. 





CHAPTER XVII. 
HoBART Smith. 

HE PARISH remained vacant two months. 
November 17, 1888, the Rev. Hobart 
Smith, Rector of Henshaw Memorial 
Chnrch, Baltimore, was elected Rector. 
He accepted, to begin his dnties Christmas Day. 

On Febrnary 6, 1889, a committee was appointed to 
take into consideration the enlarging of the chnrch 
building. On March 12th, the committee made a 
report submitting a plan for the enlargement of the 
church, and for the restoration of the roof, "hipped, 
in the style of the age in which the church was built." 
It also proposed the addition of a tower; and "the 
changing of pews so as to give a middle aisle six feet 
wide and two side aisles two feet, four inches wide." 
The Rector objected to the change of the aisle as 
removing one of the marked colonial features of the 
church ; and as there were other objections, no decision 
was reached. The Rector w^as authorized to have a 
brass tablet placed in the chancel to the memory of the 
Rectors who died in the parish, which tablet was pro- 
vided b}' the generosity of one of the Yestr^-, Mr. 



? 



118 TIbe Garrison (Iburcb. 

Charles Morton Stewart, and placed in position on 
Easter-Day. 

Abont this time the new part of the church3'ard 
was laid off in lots marked by stone posts ; a hedge of 
arbor vitae was planted, and the prices of lots fixed. 

On January 20, 1890, at a meeting of the Vestry it 
was decided to accept the majorit}- report of the com- 
mittee, which provided for the adding of a transept and 
chancel at the east end of the church ; and the same 
committee was authorized to obtain plans from Messrs. 
W3^att and Nolting, Architects; and also to solicit 
subscriptions to the amount of $4,000 from the con- 
gregation. 

March 17th, the committee (consisting of Mr. 
William Checkley Shaw, Mr. R. F. Maynard, and Mr. 
S. M. Shoemaker) reported the estimates of cost and the 
amount subscribed. The lowest estimate was $5,909.50, 
and the subscriptions amounted to $2,740.00. 

March 24th the Vestry- met again and the follow- 
ing letter was received. — "Baltimore, March 20, 1890. 
To the Vestry of St. Thomas' Church, Gentlemen — 
Since the agitation of the extension of St. Thomas' 
Church commenced, I have determined to request your 
body to allow me the privilege of paying the amount 
named by the contractor for the work. M3' object is to 
accomplish a long cherished desire — to erect a fitting 
memorial to my famil}-, to which I owe so much, 
and of which I am the sole survivor. This offer I 
know is amenable to the imputation of selfishness, but 



/IDr. Uaciart's (Benerous (Bift. no 

will, I hope, be deemed by you laudable in the motive. 
It will enable me to possess the consciousness of aiding 
you in supplying more seating room for the poor, but 
worthy, residents free of any charge, which has caused 
our Rector and yourselves so much anxiet}-. I would 
in this connection be glad to know that you would 
assign one free pew to the matron and faculty of 
McDonogh Institute. Very truly, your friend, S. H. 
Tagart." 

This offer was gratefully accepted, and Mr. Thomas 
Cradock and Mr. R. F. Maynard were appointed with 
the Rector to signify to Mr. Tagart the appreciation of 
his generous gift. "The Building Committee was then 
authorized to contract with Mr. John Cowan." 

On Easter Monday (April 6, 1890,) it was decided 
on the recommendation of the builder to put a cellar 
under the entire new part of the church at a cost of 
$467; also to have water introduced into the rectory and 
necessar}' repairs made. In view of these and other im- 
provements subscribers were asked not to withdraw sub- 
scriptions made previoush' to Mr. Tagart's generous 
offer. 

Mr. John N. Carroll, of "the Caves," offered to 
donate a bell, which was accepted. 
The total cost of the church improvement 

was $8,162 07 

The amount expended on the rectory was . 778 16 



Total cost of improvements . . $8,940 23 



120 Hbe (Harrison Cburcb 

This was covered by subscriptions, a list of which 
will be found in the appendix. 

On October ist the Church was fornialh' re-opened 
for divine worship b}- the Rt. Rev. Wni. Paret, Bishop 
of Maryland. The clergy present were Rev. A. J. 
Rich, Dean of the Convocation ; Rev. Hobart Smith, 
the Rector of the church ; Rev. J. H. Eccleston. D. D., 
who preached the sermon ; Revs. Hall Harrison, Geo. 
A. Leakin, Frederick Gibson, A. P. Stryker, A. T. Pin- 
dell, Edward P. Gray, Geo. K. Warner, Robert H. 
Paine, Edw. H. Ingle, J. H. Logic, W. H. H. Powers, 
Duncan McCulloch, R. A. Mayo, Edw. T. Lawrence, 
Charles Gauss, Alex. M. Rich and Mason Str^-ker. 

Mr. Charles Morton Stewart, on behalf the Vestry, 
made an address. A large congregation was present. 
After the service an abundant collation was served. 

September 3, 1891, Mr. Samuel H. Tagart asked 
the permission of the Vestry to place in the chancel 
three stained glass windows as a memorial to his wife 
(Sarah MifBin Large), which permission was granted. 
The windows were designed and executed by Mr. John 
La Farge, of New York, and are of opalescent glass. 
The theme is the Ascension. The}- were placed in the 
church by the following Easter Da}', but Mr. Tagart 
did not live to see them. He died March 19, 1892, aged 
eighty-one years. He was buried in the churchyard — 
the last of all his family — Monday, March 21st. 

Mr. Tagart was born about two miles north of the 
church in 181 1. He was educated at the Garrison 




'II 11-: CARKISON ClllRClI, I 89 I. 



©lie •fcun^re^ ant> Jfiftietb Hnuiversarp. 121 

Forest Academy, and studied law at Staunton, Va., under 
General Baldwin. He was a successful lawyer, and was 
associated with Mr. I. Nevitt Steele. Mr. Steele early 
gained a high reputation in pleading. Mr. Tagart was 
equally successful in securing public confidence, and was 
greatly sought as trustee and executor for large estates. 
In all the trusts committed to him there was never a 
blemish on his integrity. Mr. Tagart was one of the 
first trustees of the McDonogh Fund, and for many 
3^ears, and to the day of his death, the president of the 
Board, and it was through his watchfulness and pru- 
dence that the endowment was increased. He be- 
queathed to the McDonogh School nearly two hundred 
thousand dollars. 

In his later years he was deeply interested in the 
old parish church, under the shadow of which he had been 
born and where all his family were buried. He became 
a communicant in 1881 and was elected vestrj^man on 
Easter-Monday, 1884. His interest was unfailing and 
he would drive every Sunday from the city, even in 
winter weather, and be punctuall}^ in his seat at the be- 
ginning of the service. 

IVIr. George N. Moale was elected to the Vestr\' to 
succeed Mr. Tagart. 

October 15, 1892, the parish celebrated the one 
hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Act of Assem- 
bly by which it was incorporated. Addresses were 
made b}^ the Rt. Rev. Benjamin Wistar Morris, Bishop 
of Oregon ; Rev. J. E. Grammer, D. D., of Baltimore, 



122 Hbe Garrison Gburcl). 

and others. The Rector read a sketch of the history 
of the parisli. There was a large congregation present 
and great interest manifested. 

One important matter has been omitted from the 
minutes of the Yestr}-. The chancel had been fur- 
nished bv the liberalit}' of Mrs. S. M. Shoemaker. 
The communion table, designed b}' Messrs. Wyatt & 
Nolting, made of stone, a beautifull}- carved prayer- 
stall and a handsome carpet, were her gift. Mrs. Fred- 
erick W. Brnne gave most careful thought to the entire 
work of suitably furnishing the chancel. A carved 
credence table was the gift of IMr. and Mrs. John 
Brooks. A white marble font, beautifull}- designed and 
executed, was the gift of Airs. Wni. Fell Johnson. 

There is a little more to record in the succeeding 
years, up to the date of this publication, but the quiet 
growth of interest and the steady progress toward the 
fulfilment of its duty as a parish church. The classes 
presented to the Bishop have not been large but the}- 
have included .some of the older men, who for years had 
served the Church, and also some of the young men 
ready to serve it now. The contributions to parochial 
and mission work have largely increased, and the old 
church holds her place in the progress of the dav. 
Fifty years from now these records, which seem unim- 
portant because recent, will be studied with an interest 
equal to that with which we have followed those of fift\' 
3'ears ago. 

Dr. Ethan Allen closed his record with a comparative 



(3rowtb ot tbe parish. 123 

view of the parish, taking the dates 1770 and 1852. 
This view showed an increase of the number of 
churches, or chapels, from one to nine, but a decrease 
of communicants in all these churches, compared with 
the number in St. Thomas' Church alone in 1770; but 
Dr. Allen found some comfort by making another com- 
parison between 1852 and 18 14 when, after the years 
of desolation, "there was one church, one chapel in 
ruins, and it is not known that there were any com- 
municants;" and he fondly anticipated great growth in 
the forty years to come, since there were so many more 
clergy and places of worship. This dream has been 
realized. 

Within the limits of St. Thomas' Parish as consti- 
tuted in 1742 there are now seven parishes or organized 
congregations, with ten churches and chapels, 656 com- 
municants, raising and appropriating $10,371.95 last 
year ( 1897) for parish, diocesan and general benevolences. 
There was a total number of services in these churches 
last year of 1,774; the Holy Communion was cele- 
brated publicly 586 times. In the appendix will be 
found a tabular statement in which it will appear that 
the old parish led all the others within its ancient 
bounds in the amount raised for parochial uses and also 
in moneys appropriated to diocesan and general mis- 
sionary purposes. 

This period of the parish histor}- closes, as the 
other periods have closed, with the memorial of useful 
and honored lives. 



124 Ilbe Garrison Gburcb. 

Died, July i6, 1896. Thomas Cradock, aged sev- 
enty-seven 3'ears. 

Died January 14, 1897, Richard F. Maynard, aged 
eighty-one 3'ears. 

The Vestry minute on the death of ^Ir. Cradock 
is as follows : 

^^ Resolved, That we bear record to the fidelity of 
Thomas Cradock in his double capacity as senior war- 
den and vestryman ; to his never-failing interest in the 
duties of his position ; to his patience and generosity 
as a Christian ; and to his honor as a gentleman." 

The minute on the death of Mr. Maynard is as 
follows : 

"The Rector and Vestry of St. Thomas' Parish 
hereby place on record the testimonial of their love and 
esteem for their late colleague, Richard F. Maynard. 
Elected vestryman August 12, 1 861, treasurer March 8, 
1865, and warden subsequentl}^, he held all these offices 
continuouslv to the day of his death, and performed their 
duties with a love for the Church and a conscientious 
carefulness and faithfulness long to be remembered. 
Strong in his convictions, fearless and outspoken in 
their support, he had the unusual grace to retain the 
affection of those with whom he differed. His purity 
and high sense of honor, his absolute integrity and 
faithfulness commended his life alwaA's to all true 
men." 

These two vestrymen and wardens, life-long 
friends, devoted alike to the old church, entered into 



Jfinis, 125 

their rest, with but a brief interval between the times of 
their departure. The3' had lived to see the church 
enlarged and beautified, and with their heart and soul 
alive to all its interests they continued to the end in its 
service, "in the communion of the Catholic Church ; 
in the confidence of a certain faith ; in the comfort of 
a reasonable, religious and hoi v hope; and in perfect 
charitv with the world." 



"T2?c BfeBB ^^8 %o?^ (rtame for aff ^^8 Beroaufs beparfcb f0is ftfe in 
^38 fc*if3 ft»b f««r : 6e6ecc0ing ^^ce io gtue ub grace bo fo foffoi» i^ix 
goob tjcamn^icB, f^af t»if3 t^tm t»c tna^^ 6e ^jarfaKerB of tt^S W)tat)mf^ CRi»3' 
bom. (Brani t^iB, <t> Sat^er, for 3eBUB Christ' b BaRe, our oitfg Q^ebiafor 
anb (^btjocafe. (^mcti." 



part in 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



OF 



Vestrymen, Wardens and others Connected 
WITH St. Thomas' Parish. 



f A « 

I FRIENDLY | 

character! 

OFT H ELATE ^ 

Rev^ Thomas Cradock, | 

Reaor of St. THOMAS's Baltimore County, I 
MARTLAND. \ 

§ Who departed this LIFE, May"], 1770, in the Fifty Second ^ 
% Year of liis Age. M 

?^> ^ 

^ ^ ^ 

^ y J E WAS univerfally allowed to be a finccrc Chriftian, a poHllied Scholar, ancle- M 

^ JL X gant and perfu.ifive Preacher, a tender Parent, and an affedionate Hufband ; g 

« and though for many Years by the Will of Providence he was render'd incapable of J^ 

^ performing the common Offices of Life, he feldoni omitted his Duty as a Minifter ^ 

S of the eftablifh'd Church, and by his Charitv, Piety, Benevolence, and ^ 

^ Hospitality, he had the rare Felicity of rendering Himfclf acceptable to thofe X< 

^ of a different Communion with himfelf, and to every other Perfon who had the S 

w Pleafure of his Acquaintance ; nor was he lefs fortunate in his domcftic Happinefs. ^ 

?J Confcious to Himfelf of his own Integrity, he never fufpedcd that of Others, and ^ 

^ firmly perfu.^ded of the great Importance of a virtuous Life, he met Death with that S 

^ calm Refignation, that pleafingTranquility fo elfcntially necetfary in the Christian, ^ 

^ the Scholar, and the Gentleman : If he had any Faults, they were trivial, ^J 

M: when put in competition with his Virtues. )^ 

9, . g 

^ Printed by THOMAS W O R R A L L, No. 99, Bijhopfgate without. g 



129 



Ube (3ists.<'* 

As early as 1684 Charles, absolute lord and proprietor of 
Maryland, granted to Richard Gist a large tract of land now 
known as Cole's Cares, Green Spring, &c. His father, Chris- 
topher Gist, was of English descent and settled on the south 
branch of the Patapsco in 1682, his wife, Edith Cromwell, 
being, it is said, a grand-daughter of the Protector. Richard 
was surveyor of the Western Shore, one of the commissioners 
for laying off Baltimore Town and presiding magistrate in 1736. 
He married Zipporah Murray and had four daughters and three 
sons, Christopher, Thomas and Nathaniel, a^'O \\Jil)iav^\ 

It was this Christopher who, in 1743, sold the site for the 
church. Because of his knowledge of the country on the Ohio 
and his skill in dealing with the Indians he was chosen to 
accompany Washington on his mission in 1753, and it is from 
his journal that all historians derive their account of the expe- 
dition. He married Sarah, daughter of Joshua and Joanna 
O'CarroU Howard, and with three sons, Nathaniel, Thomas and 
Richard, was with Braddock on the fatal field of Monongahela. 
For his services he received from the king a grant of 12,000 
acres in Kentucky. Thomas was taken prisoner, and was with 
the Indians in Canada for fifteen or sixteen years. After his 
release he lived with his father on his grant in Kentucky and 
became a man of legal fame. Richard married and settled in 
South Carolina, and was killed at the battle of King's Mount- 
ain. He has descendants still living in that state. Gen. 
Nathaniel Gist married Judith Cary Bell, of Virginia. He was 
a colonel in the Virginia Line during the Revolution and died 
early in the present century, at an advanced age, leaving two 
sons, Henry Cary and Thomas Cecil. His eldest daughter, 
Sarah Howard, married Hon. Jesse Bledsoe, United States Sen- 
ator from Kentucky, and a distinguished jurist. Nancy married 



(i) ThLs sketch is largely taken from a pamphlet, entitled "The Gi.st Family," com- 
piled by Mr. Chas. T. Cockey, 1885. 



130 

Col. Nathaniel Hart, a brother of Mrs- Henry Clay, Elizabeth 
Violetta Howard married F. P. Blair and became the mother of 
Hon. Montgomery Blair and F. P. Blair, Jr. The fifth daughter 
married Benjamin Gratz, of Lexington. 

Thomas, son of Richard and Zipporah Murray Gist, mar- 
ried in 1735 Susanna, daughter of John Cockey. Their house 
stood in the hollow west frcm the pike south of where Mr. \Vm. 
Checkley Shaw now lives (1898). He was a member of the 
Committee of Observation in 1774 and was elected Colonel of 
the Soldiers' Delight Battalion, but there is no record of his 
having been in active service. He had two daughters, and 
five sons, John, Thomas, Gen. Mordecai Gist, one of the 
most noted soldiers of the Revolution, Richard, Joshua and 
David. 

Mordecai Gist was engaged in business in Baltimore at the 
outbreak of the war. He was a member of the Non-importation 
Committee in 1774, and captain of the Independent Cadets, which 
he organized. In 1776 he was made major of Smallwood's First 
Maryland Regiment, and commanded it at the famous battle of 
Long Island in the absence of its colonel and lieutenant-colonel, 
who were attending a court martial in New York. He rose to 
the rank of brigadier-general, and was present at the surrender 
of Cornwallis. At the close of the Revolution he removed to 
South Carolina, where he died in 1792. His first wife, Cecil 
Carnan, is buried with her child in St. Thomas' Churchyard. 
He had a son, Independence, by his second wife, Mary Sterrett, 
and a son. States, by his third wife, Mrs. Cattell, of South 
Carolina. 

Joshua Gist was one of the early settlers of Carroll County. 
During the administration of John Adams an excise duty was 
laid on stills. This created what was known as the Whiskey 
Insurrection, and the excitement extended to what is now 
Carroll County, and a band of whiskey adherents marched to 
Westminster and set up a liberty pole. The citizens be- 
came alarmed and sent for Colonel Joshua Gist, who then 
commanded a regiment of militia, and was known to be a brave 
and fearless man. Mounting his horse he rode into town, and, 
drawing his sword, ordered the insurrectionists to cut down the 
pole. He then placed his foot upon it and ordered them to cut 



131 

it in pieces. "Now, go home!" was the final command. 
He died in 1839, ^g^^ ninety-one years, and was buried in 
the Gist family graveyard in Carroll County. 

David Gist, the youngest son of Thomas and Susan, married 
Miss Hammond, and it is said eventually removed to Kentucky. 
He had one son, Thomas Hammond, who lived on the site of the 
old house at McDonogh School, married Julia A. M. Hammond, 
and died in 1832. His daughter, Thomasina, was born the fol- 
lowing April, and in 1834 Mrs. Gist became the wife of Lewis 
C. Leoin. Thomasina had a most eventful, adventurous life. 
It is a long story. 

— K. C. 

TTbe 1bowart)0.('; 

The Howards were living in what is now St. Thomas' Parish 
as far back as 1692. Joshua Howard, the emigrant, was from 
the vicinity of Manchester, where at Monmouth's Rebellion the 
people turned out loyally to support James II. Though very 
young, he joined them and marched with them to London. 
Monmouth having been defeated and captured, they were dis- 
banded, but dreading his father's displeasure should he return 
home, Howard soon after left England and came to America. 
Obtaining a grant of land he settled in the "Forest," about a 
mile above the present village of Pikesville. Little is known 
of him subsequently, except that he married Joanna O'Carroll 
from Ireland, and had a number of children — Francis, Cornelius, 
Edmund, Violetta, Sarah, Mary and Elizabeth. 

Francis, the oldest, went beyond the seas, probably to Eng- 
land, and, though mentioned in his father's will, afterwards 
disappeared from the knowledge or tradition of the family. 

Cornelius inherited " Howard's Square " and married Ruth 
Eager. 

Edmund also married and left descendants. 

Violetta, Sarah and Mary married William, Christopher and 
Nathaniel Gist, and Elizabeth Howard became the wife of Wil- 
liam Welles. She had two suitors, and one day in crossing a 
stream she lost her seat and fell into the water. The favored 

(i) This inforumtioii as to the Howards is given by Mr. James McHenry Howard. 



132 

suitor made for laud, but Mr. Welles plunged boldly in and 
rescued her, and she very wisely married him. 

Joshua Howard died in 1738, and with his wife is buried on 
the old place, the stones which mark their graves being still 
visible above the surface of the ground as late as 1848. 

Cornelius, the second son of Joshua Howard, was the first 
church warden when St. Thomas' Parish was organized, and a 
vestryman for many years. He was born about the year 1706, 
and married Ruth, daughter of John Eager, on the twenty-fourth 
of January, 1738. Her brother, George, having been lost at sea, 
she became sole heiress of the Eager property, which the growth 
of the town made every year more valuable, and upon which a 
large part of Baltimore is now built. Mr. Howard also acquired 
many additional acres in the county and consolidated the tracts 
under a larger patent called Rosland. 

He and his wife lived and died on the old place now owned 
by Mr. Graves, but he took a prominent share in the develop- 
ment of the town, and added to it in 1765 "that part south of 
Saratoga Street, between Forest (now Charles) and Liberty, in- 
cluding Conway and Barre Streets. 

A diary says that in 18 12 an old house which belonged to 
Mr. Howard stood opposite the Hanover Market, and that his 
barn and stables covered the site of the market, the farm 
extending towards Spring Gardens. When the French Acadians 
first found refuge in the town in 1756 he allowed them to sleep 
in his barnyard which they covered over with hay and straw. 

Cornelius Howard died on the fourteenth of June, 1777, and 
was "the only prominent man connected with the earliest history 
of Baltimore who died during the Revolutionary War." 

Mrs. Howard survived him a number of years. 

Colonel John Eager Howard. 

Colonel John Eager Howard, one of the most conspicuous 
heroes of the Revolution, was born on the fourth of June, 1752, at 
the old house the ruins of which are still seen. He was 
a member of St. Thomas' Vestry in 1775 and 1776, a member of 
the County Committee of Observation and of the committee to 
license suits at law. His first commission was that of captain 
in the Soldiers' Delight Battalion of the Flying Camp. He was 



133 

with Washington at White Plains, at Monmouth, Camden, Guil- 
ford, Hobkirk's Hill and Eutaw, and the hero of Cowpens, where 
he seized the critical moment and turned the fortunes of the 
day. At one time he held in his hands the swords of seven 
British officers whom he had taken prisoners. Congress voted 
him thanks and a medal for his services. 

After the close of the war he married Margaret Chew, 
daughter of Benjamin Chew, of Philadelphia, and removed to 
Baltimore Town. He was honored by being three times elected 
Governor of the State and twice represented Maryland in the 
United States Senate. Washington offered him a seat in his Cabi- 
net as Secretary of War. He died on the twelfth day of October, 
1827, and few men have been more truly mourned and lamented. 

The Howard property extended over the pike, its lines run- 
ning zigzag with the I,yons, and there was a road across to 
" Rosland " which turned in the north side of the lane leading 
to Mr C. Lyon Rogers. 

Cornelius Howard. 

Cornelius Howard, the younger, was born December 6, 
1754, and lived where the Myers now own, his house forming 
part of that occupied by them. Unlike the rest of his family he 
was a Tory and maintained these sentiments to the end of his 
life, having to pay double taxes for years for his opinions. But, 
though in a hotbed of Whigs, he, strange to say, kept the good 
will of his neighbors, and no bitter feeling seems to have been 
engendered against him. 

He was a man of high character, with strong convictions of 
right, truthful and exact to a fault. He possessed the confi- 
dence of the community, many differences being submitted to 
his judgment, and he woiild go any number of miles to settle a 
dispute. Mr. Howard was elected a member of the House of 
Delegates in 1793, and later served with great satisfaction as 
Judge of the Orphans' Court. 

He and his sister, Mrs. Elder, became Methodists, probably 
owing to the depressed state of the church. 

He died a bachelor February 12, 1844, having reached 
the age of ninety. His great nephew, Mr George H. Elder, 
lived with him and took the place of a son. 



134 

Mrs. Lyon asked him one day why he did not marry. Mr. 
Howard did not answer her, but in the course of a few days en- 
closed her some newspaper clippings of a divorce suit. 

Jamhs Howard. 

James Howard, a younger son of Cornelius and Ruth, was 
born on the eighth of July, 1757, and was known as "Jimmy " 
Howard. He lived at the old home place, and Miss Nancy Ash- 
man kept house for him. He was for a number of years an 
active and efficient vestryman, and at one time treasurer of the 
church. He was also a delegate to the Diocesan Conventions, 
and acted as secretary to the convention in 1787. 

He espoused the Revolutionary cause, and held a lieuten- 
ant's commission in one of the companies which were raised. He 
died unmarried on the eleventh of June, 1806. 

He was very fond of his dog and gun. Upon one occasion 
he had a beef killed, and leaving directions for it to be cut up 
and put away, went off ducking. On his return the beef hung 
as he had left it, his dog keeping guard and refusing to allow it 
to be touched. His horse was trained with much care, and at 
the word of command would drop in the road as if dead. Some 
gentlemen wanted to bet Mr. Howard that they could ride the 
horse past him. He said they had better try before betting. 
General Strieker mounted, but when the horse reached Mr. 
Howard, it obeyed his command to lie down. 

The horse dropped in the road one day to the great conster- 
nation of some laborers who rushed to his assistance with water 
in their hats to revive him, when suddenly, at a word from his 
master, he bounded up and away. 

For years Mr. Howard was a martyr to the gout, and when 
unable to walk he would shoot from horseback, the horse stand- 
ing perfectly still while the dogs retrieved the game, and rearing 
up, handed it to him. 

— K. C. 

Ube Owinas. 

The earliest trace of the Owens :uid O wings in Maryland 
is found in the Land Records at Annapolis, where grants of land 



185 

are recorded to Richard Owens (1654), "Smith's Neck," 100 
acres, near South River, to John Owens (1670), " Owens' Pur- 
chase," 200 acres, Charles County; John Owens (1673), " Swan's 
Point," on Gunpowder River, Baltimore County, 100 acres; Col. 
Thomas Taylor in behalf of Ann Owens, widow of Richard 
Owens, merchant (1684), 315 acres, " Smith's' Neck," near 
South River. 

In 1688 there is an assignment of land by William Little to 
Richard Owings, 384 acres. Elk Ridge, between the Patuxent 
and Patapsco Rivers, " Locust Thicket." 

October 10, 1694. A grant of land unto Richard Owings, 
of Anne Arundel County, 450 acres, called "Owings' Adven- 
ture," on north side of Patapsco River. 

Samuel Owings, whose name appears in the earliest record 
of St. Thomas' Parish, was the son of Richard and Rachel (Beale 
or Bale) Owings, and was born April i, 1702, in a little house, 
part stone and part log, two rooms below and two above, located 
in " Green Spring Punch," in the Green Spring Valley. (This 
cottage was occupied from 1700 until 1870 by successive genera- 
tions of Owings, the house being enlarged from time to time. It 
passed in 1870 into the hands of the ' Ashland Iron Company.") 

January i, 1729, "Samuel Owings was marryed to Urath 
Randall, daughter to Thomas and Hannah Randall." Urath 
Randall was born January i, 17 13, and was married on her 
sixteenth birthday. The family record as contained in Urath 
Randall's Bible is a model of exactness. It tells not only the 
date, but also the hour and the day of the week when each of 
the eleven children was born. Bale, May 19, 1731; Samuel. 
August 17, 1733; Rachel, May 2, 1736; Urath, June 26, 1738; 
Thomas, October 18, 1740; Hannah, April 17, 1743, died Janu- 
ary 2, 1745; Christopher, February 16, 1744; Richard, August 
26, 1746, died September 28, 1747; Richard, July 16, 1749; 
Hannah, January 27, 1750; Rebekah, October 21, 1746. Urath 
married Benjamin F. Lawrence; Thomas married Ruth Law- 
rence; Rebekah married Joshua A. Howard; Hannah married 
William Cockey (son of William and Constant (Ashman) 
Cockey), who died leaving one child, Ruth; she afterwards mar- 
ried Capt. John Stone; by this second marriage she had five 
children, one of whom (Martha) married Samuel Stump. 



136 

Samuel Owings was one of the commissioners under the 
Act of Assembly of 1742 to select and purchase the site of St. 
Thomas' Church, and to receive subscriptions toward building 
it. He was one of his majesty's justices for the county. He 
was vestryman 1750-52 and registrar 1753-57. He died April 

6. 1775- 

Samuel Owings, Jr., the second son of Samuel and Urath 
Owings (born August 17, 1733), married Deborah Lynch, 
daughter of William and Elinor L^'nch, of •" Pomona," October 
6, 1765. They went to live in a small stone and frame house 
which is still standing as a part of the house now (1898) owned 
and occupied by Mrs. Wells, one-half mile west of Owings" 
Mills. Mr. Owings afterward built a brick dwelling, a part of 
the house now (1898) owned by Mr. E. Lynn Painter. He 
called the place Ulm, the letters of which U. L,. M. stood for 
"Upper," " Lower " and "Middle" Mills, three mills which 
he owned; the present " Eureka " flour mill, a plaster mill 
(now transformed into a dwelling and owned by Mrs. Har 
mon), and a grist mill now owned by Mr. E. Lynn Painter. The 
stamp of these mills was U. L. M. During the Revolution the 
magistrates were ordered to seize all the wheat for food for the 
army. John Moale went to Sam Owings, who called his atten- 
tion to the fine bran in his barn. Mr. Moale ran his cane 
through the bran and struck boards, under which it seems Mr. 
Owings had his wheat concealed. He was suspected of a lean- 
ing towards the Tories. He also erected another brick grist 
mill, which, in 1848, was torn down and the material used to 
build the house in which Mr. John Reese now lives. In his day 
the facilities of transportation were not great, and Mr. Owings 
must have been a man of immense energy to accomplish the 
securing of large quantities of wheat and shipping the flour. 
There are twenty-nine grants of land recorded in his name, 
aggregating 13,891 acres. These grants extend through Anne 
Arundel, Baltimore and Frederick Counties, much of the land 
being immediately around Frederick. He also owned a ship- 
ping house in Baltimore Town. This Samuel Owings gave the 
ground (four acres) where the rectory now stands, and afterward 
sold the vestry thirty acres more at $20 per acre. He was ves- 
tryman 1792-1803. He died in 1803. 



137 

His children were: William, born May 5, 1767, and mar- 
ried Ann Halderman; Urath, born February 22, 1769, married 
John Cromwell, December 6, 1787; Samuel, born April 3, 1770, 
married Ruth Cockey, March 22, 1791; Eleanor, born February 
7, 1772, married Thomas Moale, March 21, 1793, died October 
25, 1853; Sarah, born December 25, 1773, married James Win- 
chester, March 21, 1793; Rebecca, born January 12, 1776; 
Deborah, born November 14, 1777, married Peter Hoffman, May 
16, 1799; Frances, born September 30, 1779, married Robert 
North Moale, July 2, 1801; Rachel, born August 27, 1781, died 
October 19, 1782; Mary, born March 27, 1784, married Richard 
Cromwell, February 6, 1800; Ann, born December 20, 1785, mar- 
ried George Winchester; Beale, born November, 1 791, married 
Eleanora Magruder. 

Samuel Owings (3d), born April 3, 1770, married Ruth 
Cockey, his cousin, March 22, 1791. He inherited from his 
grandfather, Samuel Owings (ist), the old homestead, ' Green 
Spring Punch." They had thirteen children, six of whom 
lived; Deborah married Henry Stevenson, Hannah married Wil- 
liam Ballard, Urath married Edward A. Ccckey, William Lynch 
married Sophia North Moale, James Winchester married Maria 
Jones, Charles Ridgely married Nora Small. 

This home, as can be imagined, was full of life and 
social enjoyment. The story is told that there was a club of 
men met there who voted a knife to Samuel Owings as the 
handsomest man, with the instructions to give it to the first man 
he met whom he thought handsomer than himself, but he never 
found the man. There was also a knife voted to the ugliest 
member of the club with similar instructions, but he disposed 
of the knife in a few days. 

There is another story: In 1830 when the railroad was in 
process of construction through the Green Spring Valley, Mr. 
George Winchester, who was president of the company, fre- 
quently visited the work. Oa one occasion when it was very 
cold the workmen opened a cavity in the quarry, now owned by 
Mrs. S. M. Shoemaker, and found some torpid snakes. Mr. 
Winchester carried several of these snakes in his handkerchief 
to Mrs. Owings, where he was invited to dine, and placed them 
on the hearth before an open fire in the dining-room. During 



138 

the dinner, " Phil," the waiter boy, kept his eye on these snakes. 
Presently he said to his mistress, "Missus, dem snakes is a 
moovin' ! " then " Missus, dey is crawlin' ! " " My goodness, 
Missus, one's just gone under de table ! " and Phil escaped into 
the yard, followed bj' the family. 

There is a story about a walnut tree said to have been 
planted by Urath Randall before she married Samuel Owings(ist). 
The tree grew until it measured in circumference thirt^'-two 
feet and cast a shade at noontide of 120 feet. Frequently the 
family took their meals under this great tree. It was blown 
down about 1888, w^hen one of the grandchildren of Samuel 
secured a log of the largest limb, measuring twenty inches in 
diameter and eight feet long, had it sawed into boards, which 
he divided among his children as a memento of that which had 
afforded so much pleasure and comfort for his ancestors. 

In the time of Samuel Owings (3d) farmers had a hominy mor- 
tar made of a large oak log about three feet in length with a funnel- 
shaped hole in one end, made b)' burning and boring as large as 
the size of the log would permit. Its proper place was in the corner 
of the kitchen. The firstborn of Samuel and Ruth was Deb- 
orah, so named for her grandmother- While the mother w^as 
attending to household duties, Debbie, as she was known in the 
family, was placed in the hominy mortar for safety, and thus 
did her crowing. Later this little girl w^as known by her famil)'^ 
relations as Aunt Debbie, her neighbors knew her as Miss Deb- 
bie, until later in life she became Mrs. Henr)- Stevenson. As 
the Samaritan of the county around, she could be seen almost 
every afternoon and if necessity required it, at other times, on her 
thoroughbred mahogany bay mare (Diamond), with her little 
basket hung upon the pommel of her saddle containing comforts 
for the poor, the sick and the needy. To her and her dear friend 
in this work, Miss Sarah Nicholas, the success of St. Thomas' 
Church is largely indebted. 

Samuel Owings(^ 3d) was vestryman from 1799 until 1824. 

— C. T. C. 

Zbc Carnane. 

The Carnans were from Reading, Berks, England. We first 



140 . 

hear of Christopher Carnan in Philadelphia in the winter of 1749, 
when he is mentioned in Watson's Annals as one of the man- 
agers of the " Assembly Balls." He is spoken of elsewhere as 
\vell known in Baltimore, when he married on the thirteenth of 
June, 1 75 1, Elizabeth North, the oldest daughter of Capt. Robert 
North, who "preferred him poor and handsome to the richest 
man in the Province." They received 1,500 guineas on their 
wedding day, and went on a trip to England, where Mrs. Car- 
nan was received by her family. Their oldest son, Charles, was 
born on the voyage home. 

Captain North had given to his daughter Elizabeth the 
place now owned by Capt. Wilson C. Nicholas, one-half of a 
tract of land which he bought from the Gists in 1745, and Chris- 
topher Carnan built the old house which, in 1898, stands intact. 
His initials cut on one of the boards can still be deciphered. 

His children were Charles, born June 20, 1752, and Robert 
North, born August 8, 1756, 

His tombstone bears the following inscription: 

Chkistopher Carnan, 

Who Lived and Died an Honest Man, 

On the 30TH OF December, 1769. 

Aged 39 Years. 

He was most probably the brother of Cecil Carnan, the first 
wife of Gen. Mordecai Gist, and of John Carnan, from whom 
the Ridgelys, of " Hampton," are descended. 

Cecil Carnan's epitaph reads: 

To THE Memory of 

Cecil Gist, 

Daughter of Charles and Prudence Carnan, 

OF London, 

Who Departed this Life 

The 1ST Day of July, 1770. 

Aged 28. 



L41 

Friendly stranger, stop, gaze on this silent tomb. 

The end of Nature in the prime of youthful bloom. 

I,ost from the soft endearing ties of I.ife, 

And tender name of daughter, sister, mother, wife. 

Ye blooming fair, in her your fading charms survey: 

She was whate'er your tender hearts can say. 

More than exceeds ye muses noblest point of thought. 

Or Pope or Milton's verses ever taught 

Farewell, lamented shade I can proceed no more; 

Too fast thy memory prompts the tear to flow. 

Such was ye will of fate, nor must we murmur at ye rod. 

Nor allwise dispensations of our God. 

Here in hope we trust, here our sorrows rest; 

The good, virtuous dead are ever blest, 

John Carnan married Achsah Ridgely, the widow of Dr. 
Robert Holliday, and his son, Charles Ridgely Carnan, took the 
name of his uncle, Captain Ridgely, and inherited " Hampton." 
Achsah Ridgely 's third husband was Daniel Chamier. 

Charles Carnan, son of Christopher, inherited " Atamasco," 
and was twice married. His first wife was Miss Boyce and his 
second Miss Johnston, of York, daughter of Samuel Johnston, 
who then married Colonel Carnan's mother. 

The parish record shows : "Rebecca Carnan, daughter of 
Charles and Mary, his wife, was born June 8, 1775." "Sarah, 
daughter of Charles and Sarah Carnan, was born April 20, 1795." 

From a family Bible : Elizabeth Carnan married Nelson 
Norris, May 21, 1816. 

Two daughters of Charles Carnan married Nelson Norris, 
and one of them, it is said, left a son, who went west. 

Colonel Carnan was a great card player. One day a party 
was assembled, but he had not come home. They heard a 
horse's steps, and Mrs. Carnan said, " That cannot be he, be- 
cause he rode a certain horse of a certain color." Mr. Tagart 
answered, " Pray, madam, does he always ride the same horse 
down the hill that he rides up ? " Presently a voice was heard, 
"Jim, come put my horse in the stable!" It was Colonel Car- 
nan, and he had returned upon a different horse. He had a pas- 
sion for horse trading, and it was said once traded thirteen times 
and returned home on the horse on which he started. 

Some times he would give up card playing and be very 
good for a while, probably influenced by his brother Robert, 
who was a Methodist. Then he would take a little stick and 
point, " When I played cards I would have played so and so." 



142 

It was a saying, "Jim, snufif the candle, I can't see my trumps." 

Robert North Carnan married Katheriue Risteau, daughter 
of George Risteau, and lived at "The Garrison" His name 
was enrolled in a home guard during the Revolution, but he saw 
no active service. He was a man of high integrity and un- 
bounded hospitality, and like Mr. Cornelius Howard, became a 
staunch Methodist. His mother sent Charles to remonstrate 
with him, but he came back and said, " I half believe Robert is 
right." 

He had seven children. Frances Todd, born November 24, 
1777, who married Robert Wilkinson, and died within a year; 
George Risteau, died in early 3'outh; Christopher, born July 19. 
1780, who married, March 9, 1802, Christiana Sim Holliday, 
daughter of John Robert Holliday and Eleanor Addison Smith; 
Elizabeth, who died unmarried; Mary (Maria) North, born De- 
cember 9, 1792, who married Eli Simkins; Rebecca Risteau, 
born May 23, 1794, who married Joshua Tevis; Frances Wilkin- 
son, born after the death of her oldest sister, and called for her, 
was the first wife of William Fell Johnson. 

George Risteau Carnan's death was occasioned by a fall from 
a tree, the consequence of climbing it on Sunday, and was held 
upas a warning to future generations. "Risteau's Garrison," 
which had been bequeathed to him by his uncle, Thomas Ris- 
teau, came into the possession of his brothers and sisters, and 
was bought from them by their father. 

One day the Methodist preacher was at Mr. Carnan's house 
having prayers. After sending up fervent petitions for "Bob 
Wilkinson," he added, "There he is, Lord, at the foot of the 
bed." 

Robert North Carnan died in 1836. He had married the 
second time, Mrs. Ennals, who was a Miss Goldsborough, of the 
Eastern Shore. 

— K. C. 

(lapt. 3obn IRisteau. 

John Risteau was a Huguenot and fled from France after 
the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. He came from the 
County Ghent, and from his rent roll must have been a man of 



143 

importance. He was high sheriff of Baltimore County and 
captain of a garrison stationed upon his plantation during the 
Indian wars. His name is among those who took up lots in 
Baltimore Town in 1730, and he was one of the subscribers for 
the chapel of ease in the Forest. 

He married Katherine, daughter of George Ogg, and widow 
of William Talbot. Their children were Talbot, Isaac, Joseph 
and George, and one daughter, Katherine, who, at the age of 
seventeen, became the wife of Rev. Thomas Cradock. 

Talbot married Mary Stokes, June 20, 1745, and died No- 
vember 23, 1753. He was clerk of the county court when Bal- 
timore and Harford were one, from 1746 until his death. 

Isaac was born November 4, 1724, and married Elizabeth 
Reaven in 1748. His son, Capt. John Talbot Risteau, ran away 
from home at his mother's second marriage and joined the 
English service, with the stipulation that he was not to fight 
against the Americans. He was the father of Dr. Thomas 
Cradock Risteau, for many years a member of the House of 
Delegates. Dr. Risteau married Ann Courtenay, of Baltimore, 
and had one daughter, Mary, who became the wife of Daniel 
Jenifer, of Charles County. 

Joe studied for the ministry, but died before being ordained 
and was buried under the chancel of the church, the only inter- 
ment which has ever been made within the edifice. 

George married Frances Todd, a daughter of Thomas Todd 
(4th), on August 7, 1757, and lived at "The Garrison," which 
his father bequeathed to him with adjacent acres. He was 
acting warden of the church in 1752 and vestryman from 1762. 
He was a member of the Committee of Observation and of the 
Provincial Conventions of 1775 and 1776. 

His children were Katherine, born June 17, 1758 ; Eleanor, 
born January 15, 1760; Thomas, born January 16, 1763; John, 
April 14, 1764 ; Frances, July 26, 1767. and Rebecca, born De- 
cember 5, 1770. 

Katherine married Robert Carnan. — K. C. 

GcovQC .IBramwelL 

George Bramwell, registrar 1 758-1 764, was the son of 



144 

Chief Justice Brarawell, of London, who was grandfather of the 
late Chief Justice Lord Bramwell (born June 12, 1808; died 
May 9, 1892.) He was educated for the law and was admitted 
as a barrister, but being a younger son and inheriting neither 
title nor land, he emigrated to Maryland in 1735 and purchased 
lands north of Patapsco Falls, in what is now Carroll County, 
adjoining the western boundary of Baltimore County, near Glen 
Falls Station. He married in 1750 Mrs. Susanna Fortt, who 
bore him two children, Mary and Henry. 

George Bramwell styles himself Scrivener in his will, dated 
September, 1770, The county records show that he frequently 
acted as an attorney and also that his operations in real estate 
were considerable. He died September 27, 1770. 

XTbe /iDoale ifamil^. 

The Moale family has been identified with St. Thomas' 
Church for many years, and their graves are among the oldest 
in the churchyard. 

John Moale, son of Richard and Elizabeth Moale, was born 
in Kenton Parish, Devonshire, England, October 30, 1697, emi- 
grated to America in 1719, and settled on the middle branch of 
the Patapsco River. The place was called Moale's Point. He 
married Rachel, daughter of Gen. John Hammond, of Severn 
River, April 17, 1723. His two sons, John and Richard, were 
quite conspicuous in the early history of Baltimore. John 
married Ellin, daughter of Capt. Robert North, at the residence 
of her sister, Elizabeth, wife of Christopher Carnan, in Balti- 
more, in 1758. Captain North was from the Parish of Whit- 
tington. County of Lancaster, England. He died in 1748, and 
bequeathed to his daughter, Ellin, the property known as 
Greenspring, most of which is now owned by her descendants, 
the Elder family, and though after her marriage she and her 
husband continued to reside in the town, they built part of the 
present house on the Greenspring property, and became closel}' 
associated with the parish. "Aunt Milly," an old family 
servant, now (1898) over ninety, who has seen six generations 
of the Moale family, remembers quite well when Mrs. Moale 
used to come every summer to the country. 




A COKNI'.K t)I" THI'. ( 1HR( n\ AKl) WHKKL IHE cKAImkK; 
lARXANS AND THILPOTS ARE BURIED. 



MOAI.KS, 



145 

Mr. Moale was an ardent Whig, and took an active interest 
in affairs during the Revolution. He was a member of the 
Committees of Observation and Correspondence and of the con- 
ventions of 1774 and 1776. He was lieutenant-colonel of the 
Baltimore Town battalion of militia from May, 1776, to the 
close of the Revolution, and for many years Presiding Justice of 
the county court. His sons, Thomas and Robert North, were 
members of the Vestry of St. Thomas' Church. Thomas mar- 
ried Eleanor, daughter of Samuel Owings, and was in the 
Vestry for a number of years between 181 1 and 1821. Robert 
North married Frances, sister of Eleanor Owings, and was a 
member of the Vestry for eight or ten years, delegate to the 
Diocesan Convention in 1806, and treasurer from 1820 to 1823. 
He died in 1852, leaving the Greenspring property, where he 
lived for many years, to his daughter, Ellin, wife of Geo, H. 
Elder. 

John Moale, the father of John and Richard, had two 
daughters, Elizabeth, who died in her fourth year, and Rebecca, 
who became the wife of Charles Croxall, of Croxall Hall, Eng- 
land. Mr. and Mrs. Croxall are buried in a family burial 
ground on the farm. Garrison, in Greenspring Valle}^ now 
owned by Charles T. Cockey, where are also the graves of a 
number of the Buchanan, Rogers and Gittings families. 

— G. N. M. 

Ube Xpon jfamilp. 

Dr. William Lyon began to take up land about two miles 
below the church in 1745, and removed to the county eight or 
ten years later. He was a Scotchman, son of a Presbyterian 
clergyman, near Perth, and came to Baltimore Town in 1735, 
soon after receiving his diploma. He engaged in all the im- 
portant undertakings of the day and aided materially in the de- 
velopment of the town. He established the first drug store there 
in 1746, Lyon & Philpot, and in 1750 was appointed a com- 
mittee of one to enforce what is the first health ordnance on the 
records. When Moale's map of Baltimore was made in 1751 he 
is mentioned as the only physician within its limits. 

He was one of the largest subscribers for " Keeping up. 



146 

repairing and making good the fence of the said town," and he 
was also a subscriber for the erection of a market house, but this 
was not effected until some time later, in 1763, when he was 
one of the commissioners. 

The Lyon property, called Wester Ogle, after the old Easter 
Ogle estate in Scotland, originally contained 1,700 acres. Dr. 
Lyon established mills near what is now McDonogh Station '" 
and erected a large warehouse opposite the present Wester Ogle 
entrance. His house stood on Lyon's Mill Road, between the 
pike and the Falls, and was eventually burned to the ground 
with all it contained. 

Dr. Lyon was appointed a member of the county Committee 
of Observation in 1775, and lived through the Revolution, dying 
in 1795, at the good old age of eighty-two. Wester Ogle is still 
held by one of his name, almost the only instance in the parish. 

His only son, Major Robert Lyon, resided, after the old 
house was burned, near the Stone Chapel. He did not adhere 
strictly to the Scotch tenets of his father's faith, though he 
styled himself a Presbyterian. He is mentioned in 1818 as one 
of the congregation of St. Thomas' who met on Easter Monday 
to elect the \'estry, but seems to have taken no active part in 
the church. 

At the beginning of the Revolution he joined Captain 
Plunkett's Company, and occupied one of the posts of honor in 
the front rank. He served through the struggle, and was pres- 
ent at several engagements. At the close of the war Captain 
Plunkett organized the " Baltimore Troop," and Robert Lyon 
was among those who enlisted. He was a fine horseman and 
stories are told of his prowess. 

Major Lyon died esteemed and respected in 1842, having 
reached the age of eighty-eight years. His wife was Susan Hall, 
daughter of Elisha Hall, of Cecil County, and he had two 
daughters and a number of sons — William, Charles, Swan, 
Samuel Hall, Robert, Edward and James. Mary Lyon mar- 
ried Micajah Rogers, and Kitty Lyon, James B. Latimer. 



(i) Mrs. Gist considered the mill dam a menace to -health, so she sent for Dr. t,yon 
and, locking the door, told him he should not leave the room until he promised to have it 
removed. Dr. I^yon replied, " By my troth, woman, you're daft,'' and succeeded in mak- 
ing his cscajie. The story goes that she wore a red josey and i)re.sented unite a formi- 
dable appearance. 



147 

William was one of the pioneers of East Tennessee, and an inti 
mate friend of General Jackson. Samuel was a physician, and 
occupied a chair in the University of Maryland. Robert was 
a merchant, and for a long time cashier of the Custom House in 
Baltimore. James was a lawyer, and Charles, Swan and Edward 
lived at the old place. Charles, Robert and Swan were present 
at the battle of North Point, Charles acting as aide to General 
Smith. 

Edward Lyon was a most loyal churchman and a faithful 
vestryman of St. Thomas' for twenty years. He was treasurer 
of the church for six years and delegate to the Diocesan Conven- 
tions for about the same length of time. He died February 
8, 1865. 

— K. C. 

Zbc Mortbinotons. 

The Worthingtons trace their descent in this country from 
Capt. John Worthington, of Westminster Parish, Anne Arun- 
del, who, in 1674, was one of the Justices of the Quorum, and 
whose tomb, with its cross bones and skull, is opposite Annapo- 
lis. He married Sarah Howard, daughter of Matthew Howard, 
one of the "Men of Severn," and died April 6, 1701. His chil- 
dren were: John, born January 13, 1689, who married Helen 
Hammond, daughter of Gen. John Hammond, on January 8, 
1 7 13, and died in 1763; Thomas, born January 8, 1691, who 
married Elizabeth Ridgely, and was for many years a member 
of the assembly; William, born April 16, 1694, who married 
Sarah Homewood; Sarah, born January 10, 1696, who married 
Nicholas Ridgely; Charles, born October 20, 1701. 

As shown by his will, Captain Worthington left his "home 
plantation on the Severn" to John ; "Greenbury's Forest," to 
Thomas ; and to William "Howard's Inheritance," a tract near 
Beard's Mill and another at the Fresh Pond on the Bodkin 
Creek of the Patapsco River. 

John obtained a grant of 2,000 acres in Baltimore County 
in 1740, which he gave to bis sons, William and Samuel. Wil- 
liam was married on June 30, 1734, to Mrs. Hannah Cromwell, 
widow of Capt. John Cromwell, of Anne Arundel, and was the 



148 

first of his name in the parish, being a vestryman of St. Thomas' 
for a short time before his death, in 1749, leaving two sons, John 
and William. 

John married Mary Todd, daughter of Thomas Todd (4th;, 
and EUinor Dorsey ; his daughter Ann, at the age of sixteen, 
became the wife of Dr. John Cradock. Her sister, Margaret, 
married Colonel William Lamar, an officer of Revolutionary 
fame, who met her while on a visit to "Bloomsbury." 

Samuel was a younger son, born in 1733, and the pioneer 
of Worihington Valley. He was also a vestryman of the church, 
and has been noticed elsewhere. His first wife was Mary Tol- 
ley, daughter of Walter Tolley, of Joppa, and his second, Martha 
Garrettson. He was blessed with twenty-four children. His 
daughter, Ellen, Mrs. Elisha Johnson, a lady of fine presence and 
great attraction, lived to the memor>- of the present generation. 

The following inscriptions are copied from tombstones in 
the churchyard of St. John's in the \'alley : 
To the Memory of 
Mary Worthingtox, 

WIFE OF 

Samuel Worthington, 

Who was Born the 21st Day of March, 1740, 

and Departed this L,ife the ist Day of Oct., 1777. 

Aged 37 Years and 6 Mos. 

Leaving a Disconsolate Husband and Eleven Weeping 

Children to Lament Their Irreparable Loss. 

This Amiable Woman Lived Beloved and Died 

Lamented by Both Rich and Poor 

and 

Her Soul is gone to hcavLii above, 
luijoying lier dear Redeemer's love. 
While time .shall roll and never end. 
A blest eternity to spend. 

Here Lies the Body of 

Samuel Worthingtox, 

Who Departed This Life 

on the 7th Day of April, 

1815. 

Aged 8t Years. 

He is not dead, but sleeps in Christ. 



149 



Martha G., 
Second Wife of Samuel Worthington, 
Born Aug. 13. i753' 
Died Dec. 31, 1831. 
The mother of eleven children, 
Ten of whom have survived her. 
The number of his children as given in these inscriptions 
does not agree with Dr. Allen's record. 

There is a story that "Old" Sam Worthington asked Mrs. 
Cradock, the parson's wife, to pick him out a sweetheart^ One 
day at church, as he assisted her to dismount, she gave him to 
understand that she had selected the lady who was with her. It 
was Miss Mary Tolley, her guest, from Joppa; and Mr. Worth- 
ington afterwards married her. 

John Tolley Worthington. 

John Tolley Worthington, the eldest son of Samuel Worth- 
ington and Mary Tolley, became a vestryman of St Thomas m 
788 and continued frequently to be elected until 18^6. when 
St John's in the Valley was erected. He was a member of 
the House of Delegates and in 1801 of the ^-te of Ma^^dand^ 
His residence, Montmorenci, stood at the head of he Western 
R^n 4ley, and his estate was said to be worth ^a U a -Uio^^ 
He married his cousin, Mary, daughter «/J"^%^^7^^^/'^', 
Worthington, of Annapolis, who survived him a few years. He 
Id September 8, 1834. leaving two daughters, Mary and Ann 
Ridffelv ( Nancy) married Richard Johns. 

His' daughter, Polly, was engaged to three men at the same 
t.me Georle Howard being one and a Dr. H-dy another. 
Ororge Howard wanted Dr. Walker to carry ^;l;-"-f '° °;^ 
Handy This he refnsed to do but consented to call and see 
Sm Dr Handy showed him a letter he had rece.ved fro.n the 
'aTy temn "hTm to be at church on a certain day and to s, on 
he sm side as her father .ho would invrte hrm l-- ° '^ 
ner Dr Handy complied with her request and was mv.ted to 

"dLer'ythe S^i^eNut >>'^^ -;f ^ ^ T^^e Jl 
seems she had written the same letter o each o ^^^ 

they concluded they would not fight tor her. 



150 

cousin, J. T. Hood Worthitigton, and her son, John Tolley, in- 
herited Montmorenci. 

Charles Worthingtox. 

Charles Worthington, the fourth son of Samuel Worthing- 
ton and Mary Tolley, was a vestryman of St. Thomas' i8i8-ig- 
32-34. He was born September 22, 1770; and in January. 1803, 
married Susan Johns, daughter of Col. Richard Johns. He was a 
man of influence in the county, standing in the highest esteem. 
He inherited part of his father's landed estate, and died in July, 
1847, in possession of much wealth, which he divided among 
his four unmarried sons, Richard, Kensey, Benjamin J. and 
Rdward— having provided for his two married daughters, Mary 
Tolley Johns Semmes and Sarah Weems Love, during his life. 

— K. C. 

Ebe Coc^^ep family. 

William and Sarah Cockey settled near the Patapsco River 
in 1679. William Cockey took up extensive tracts of land on 
tile Magothy River, and in Baltimore County, on the north side 
of Jones' Falls. 

John Cockey, son of William and Sarah Cockey, born 16S1: 
married, January 17, 17 14. Elizabeth Slade. Their children were: 
Susannah, born November 2, 1714, married Thomas Gist, July 
2, 1735; Mary, born December 10, 17 16, married Joshua Owings, 
March 9, 1735; William, born February 20, 1718, married Con- 
stant Ashman, August 9, 1742: Sarah, born February 26, 1721, 
married Robert Boon, December 16, 1746; Thomas, born Decem- 
ber 13, 1724, married Prudence Gill, May 15, 1753; Joshua, born 
March 12, 1726, married Charcilla T)ye, August 27, 1755: John, 
born May 18, 1729, died 1746; Edward, born December 20, 1731, 
married Eleanor Pindell, June 19, 1753; Peter, born Mar. 11, 1734 

In the list of vestrymen of St. Thomas' Parish we find that 
William Cockey was one of the first Vestry, 1745; Thomas 
Cockey, vestryman 1751-53; Edward Cockey, warden 1755, ves- 
tryman 1782-84; John Cockey, warden 1767; John Cockey, ves- 
tryman 1792-94; of a late generation Thomas B. Cockey was 
registrar 181 8, 1819, and Edward A. Cockey was vestryman 
from 1S24 to 1829: Charles T. Cockey, 1885-1898. 



151 
Ube Ibunt jfamilp. 

Job Hunt, warden 1771; Phineas Hunt, vestryman 1799- 
1809; Samuel C. Hunt, warden 1802. 

Job Hunt ( ist) was among the English settlers of Calvert 
County, and married Elizabeth Chew. In 1760 he moved from 
Calvert County and settled in the east half of Green Spring Val- 
ley, his estate comprising what is now known as Brooklandville 
and extending to Ruxton, He had four sons, Henry, who never 
left the old home in Calvert County; Job (2d), born 1747, mar- 
ried Margaret Hopkins, daughter of Samuel Hopkins, of Balti- 
more County; Phineas, born November 2, 1751, died February 
6, 1837; Samuel Chew, date of birth not given. Job Hunt (2d) 
owned the Brooklandville farm. He died February 13, 1809, 
and his estate was sold to Richard Caton. Phineas Hunt owned 
the Hunt meeting house farm, where the family graveyard is 
located. Samuel C. Hunt owned what is now known as the 
Mordecai and Rider farms. Phineas Hunt willed his farm to 
Jesse Hunt, son of Job Hunt (2d). Jesse Hunt was born July 
3, 1793. He was the first superintendent of St. Peter's Church 
Sunday School. He was Mayor of Baltimore in 1832, and died 
December 8, 1872. 

— W. B. H. 

3obn (3m. 

January 13, 1797, died Mr. John Gill aged eighty-seven 
years. He was one of the Vestry when the church was organ 
ized in 1745. He lived where his grandson, Mr. Joshua Gill, 
recently died at an advanced age, some two miles and a half 
north of the church. The records show that he had six sons 
and five daughters. Of his sons, John lived on the Western Run, 
where Mr. John T. Johns now lives; Stephen lived on a farm 
now owned by Mr. John Johns; Edward lived nearby, where his 
son, Dr. Edward Gill, now lives; Nicholas lived adjoining him, 
where his grandson, George W. Gill, now lives. All but John 
living north of Western Run, were in St. James' Parish. — From 
Dr. Allen's notes, 1852. 



152 

S>r. IRanMe "Ibulse. 

In the old Maryland Gazette we meet with the name of Dr. 
Randle Hulse, "of St. Thomas' and Guy's Hospitals, London. 
who resides at the Rev. Mr. Craddock's, Garrison Forest, and 
practices every branch of surgery and physick." 

Dr. Hulse was one of the most unique characters in the old 
parish. He was a college companion of Rev. Mr. Cradock, and 
becoming involved in pecuniary troubles in England, fled 
to America to escape the debtor's prison, and sought refuge at 
Trentham. His wife, one of the Lemmons of Cornwall, had 
married him much against the wishes of her relations. Upon 
the death of her daughter she wrote to them for assistance, and 
they sent her a guinea, with directions never to let them hear 
from her again. She followed her husband over, and a room 
was built for them at the end of the house which was always 
known as "Mrs. Hulse's room." 

Dr. Hulse was a man of fine education and an able physi- 
cian. He engaged in practice, and in the course of time sent 
over the money for the discharge of his debts. Drs. John and 
Thomas Cradock first studied with him, and he was in partner- 
ship with Dr. Thomas Cradock for some years Their practice 
covered many miles, as far as Westminster and to Pipe's Creek, 
and Dr. Hulse often had great difficulty in collecting the out- 
standing debts. They were the bane of his life. 

He would get out his day book, and in looking over it, be- 
come so irritated that he would throw it behind the fire. Dr. 
John Cradock would pull it out. This went on until one day he 
pitched it behind the fire, and Dr. Cradock made no effort to 
rescue it. This rather dumbfounded the old doctor, and he 
cried, "Johnny, Johnny, the day book is burning I'' "Damn 
the day book, ' Dr. Cradock replied, "let it burn." Where- 
upon he seized it himself, and never attempted the trick again. 

He was an ardent Tory, and it is a matter of wonder that he 
should have been tolerated during the Revolution in such a nest 
of Whigs. But he was sturdy and independent, and fearlessly 
proclaimed his views. When the news came of Cornwallis' sur- 
render he sat with his hands on his knees, rocking himself and 
])atting the floor, "It's a lie, It's a lie. It's a lie." 



153 

About 1786 Dr. Hulse entered into a contract with a certain 
Hammond to cure him of a cancer for ^2,000, and wrote imme- 
diately to Dr. Cradock, dissolving the partnership. This, of 
course, produced a breach between them, and he and Mrs. Hulse 
went to live at Colonel Carnan's. 

Not long after Colonel Carnan had a card party, and there 
was such a downpour the guests were compelled to remain over 
night. The next morning it was still raining, and Dr. Hulse got 
down his day book, commenting on the different accounts. 
"This one so much," "That one so much," until he came to 
Tom Gist's name. "Tom Gist — damn rascal — if he was in Eng- 
land he would be hung," Gist's cousin, Jimmy Howard, looked 
at him intently, but said nothing. Just then who should come 
riding down the road but Tom Gist himself. Dr. Hulse met him 
most cordially, and prescribed a toddy after his wet ride, which 
he would mix for him. Tom Gist said, "Doctor, I heard you 
had dissolved partnership with Dr. Cradock, and I want to pay 
my bill. I would have come yesterday but the weather was 
bad and I stopped for the night with Aunt Howard." Dr. 
Hulse was delighted, and when Mr. Gist had taken his depart- 
ure turned to "Jimmy" Howard: ' Mr. Howard, how very 
fortunate you are in your family ; they are such honest men," 
then adding, fiercely, "if you say another word I'll throw you 
out of the window," he bolted upstairs and was not seen for 
the rest of the day. 

It is mentioned that in 1774 Drs. Hulse, Wiesenthall, 
Cradock and Haslet attended the poor of the count}^ and the 
Boston Evening Post and General Advertiser of 1782 announces 
that "Dr. Hulse and Thomas Dove, of Baltimore County, em- 
ployed the trepan with relief to a child who had been injured by 
violence." 

Some of the older members of Dr. Hulse's family dying in 
England he laid claim to the estate, which the other heirs 
agreed to let him have during his lifetime to avoid a law suit. 
Mrs. Hulse refused to go back, as she "had seen enough trouble 
there." He accordingly left her an annuity, and she remained 
at Colonel Carnan's until her death in 1804, universally esteemed 
and respected. 

Among the old books at Trentham is "Observations Upon 



164 

Authors, Ancient and Modern,'' with the following inscription 
on the fly leaf: "Dr. Ran. Hulse, Jan. 7, 1767 Ar: Caractaco 
dedit." He wrote several poems on the death of Arthur Cra- 
dock, and an epitaph, among them the following tribute: 

■"Chaste as the spotless lamb, exempt from Pride. 
He lived the X'tian. like a Saint he dy'd. 
Caressed in I^ife. lamented in his End. 
The Parent's pride, the Muses' warmest Friend." 

Br. ^bomas Cra^ocf^ 

Dr. Thomas Cradock was the third son of the Rev. Thomas 
Cradock, and was born at Trentham on May 30, 1752. His 
father took especial interest in his education and he early be- 
came proficient in classical literature, having Homer at his 
fingers' ends at the age of ten. He was dedicated to the minis- 
try but chose the profession of medicine and, after studying 
with Dr. Hulse, attended lectures in Philadelphia, where he 
boarded in the house with John and Sam'l Adams. 

He was most active in the Revolutionarj' cause and when 
only twenty-three was made a member of the county Committee 
of Observation. On Easter-Monday, 1776, he was elected a 
member of St. Thomas' Vestry and was qualified on the 
eleventh of June according to the resolves of the Provincial 
Convention of Maryland, twenty three days before the Declara- 
tion of Independence. 

At the beginning of the struggle he joined Captain Plunk- 
ett's Company, and he, Major Lyon, two of the Howards from 
Elkridge, and John Philpot, occupied the front rank as gentle- 
men volunteers. While in Pennsylvania General Washington 
personally requested him to leave the ranks and attend to the 
wounded. On his way home he was pointed out b}' a woman in 
Philadelphia as a spy, arrested, and carried before Washington, 
who laughed very heartily at the mistake. 

During the Revolution there was a ball given in Baltimore 
in honor of General Washington. He led the minuet with 
Nellie Gittings, a noted belle of the day, and Dr. Cradock 
walked next with Betsey Moale, afterwards Mrs. Curzoii Nellie 
Gittings married James Croxall and lived at the old Croxall 
place, now owned by Mr. Charles T. Cockey. 




W'lLLIAMINA SMITH. (MRS. CllAKI.KS ( ;i)LI )SHOROUGH .; 
From a miiiialure in a riiii;. saiil to liave been |)aiiile<I by Major AiulrO. 



155 

After Col. John Eager Howard was wounded at the battle 
of Eutaw his brother, James Howard, brought him home and 
he was "conBned to his room and bed for nearly a year at the 
residence of his friend, Dr. Thomas Cradock, who declined any 
compensation for medical attendance and living, both from per- 
sonal friendship and motives of patriotism." Colonel Howard 
was at this time in correspondence with Peggy Chew, whom he 
afterwards married, and Dr. Cradock was the confidant and con- 
ducted the correspondence during his illness. 

Dr. Cradjck did not aspire to political honors, but he used 
his pen vigorously during the campaigns, and was a clever 
writer. He was prominent in the reorganization of the 
Church in America, and was a delegate to the first general 
Convention of the Church in the United States. He was one of 
a committee of six, three clergy and three laity, appointed to 
"confer with any committees that may be appointed in other 
States to make such alteration in the liturgy of the Church as 
may be necessary under the American Revolution for uniformity 
of worship and Church government." 

The clerical delegates were familiar names : Dr. Smith, Dr. 
West and "Parson" Andrews, 

Dr. Smith was the first president of Washington College 
and the first provost of the College of Philadelphia. He is 
spoken of in his Life as "an orator, a scholar, a college pro- 
fessor, a military critic and a statesman." He was most prom- 
inent in the Church and, it is said, had more to do with Ameri- 
canizing the English Prayer-book than any man in the countr)-, 
though at one time he was accused of a leaning toward 
toryism. 

"Williamina, Dr. Smith's oldest daughter, was sixteen 
years old at the time of the occupation of Philadelphia by the 
British, and remained with her aunt, Mrs. Phineas Bond. Being 
a beautiful and sprightly girl she soon attracted the notice of 
the young British officers and especially of the accomplished 
Andre, who induced Mrs. Bond to let her become one of the 
ladies of the Mischianza. The matter produced an unpleasant 
feeling between Dr. Smith and Mrs. Bond. But young girls in 
such circumstances — who can control them." (Life of Dr. Smith.) 

Dr. Cradock became engaged to Miss Smith, but upon 



156 

refusing t® favor the election of her father to the Episco- 
pate"' of Maryland Dr. Smith withdrew his consent to the mar- 
riage. The}' determined to run away. Colonel Howard 
met them with his phaeton and she had her foot on the step get- 
ting in, when she hesitated, and turning to Dr. Cradock, said, 
"If I go, I have my father's curse." "It is not too late," he 
replied. Her misgivings overcame her and she went back. 
She afterwards sent him a ring, with her miniature, which he 
retained to the day of his death. He never married, but she 
proved less faithful and became the wife of Hon. Charles Golds- 
borough, of Horn's Point. There is a tradition that the minia- 
ture was painted by the ill-fated Major Andre, and it is still 
in the possession of a Thomas Cradock. 

Dr. Cradock was a great beau in his youth and was grooms- 
man innumerable times. There was a pink coat, especially 
remembered, which was called the groomsman's coat, because it 
had figured at so man}' weddings. He was groomsman twice 
for Mr. Charles Carnan, and went with him to York for his sec- 
ond wife, a daughter of Samuel Johnston. He went to Phila- 
delphia with George Lux at his marriage to Miss Biddle. 
George Lux, with his usual impracticability, came to Trcnthani 
to start on the journey with no money in his pocket and Dr. 
Cradock had to lend him the sum to defray his expenses. 
George Lux was an erratic genius, and always doing queer 
things. When Washington lay with his army before Boston he 
rode all the way there on horseback to see him. He was highl}- 
educated and a prominent figure in Baltimore Town, as was 
his father, William Lux. 

Dr. Cradock was a great whist player. He "could glance 
at his cards and laugh and talk with the girls and yet know 
every card which had been played and who played it." Old 
"Aunt Milly" remeiubers his coming down to see Mr. Robert 
Moale one night when he was taken ill with gout. He walked 
with a cane and wore red top boots. "All the gentlemen wore 
red top boots." He owned a large tract of land between Trent- 
ham and Pikesville which Mrs. Curzon named Pill Box, because, 
she said, it "was bought with pill money." 

(i) The correspondence of Drs. Cradock .ind Andrews in tht- matter of the election 
of Dr. Smith will be found in the appendix. 



157 

He was one of ihe organizers of the Maryland Society 
for the Promotion of Useful Knowledge, September, 1800, 
and one of the incorporators of the Medical and Chirurgical 
Faculty of Maryland, 1799. He was an able and distinguished 
physician and engaged in active practice for forty-five years. 
He gave to the Church his earnest support, and was for 
forty years a vestryman of St. Thomas' and frequently a dele- 
gate to the Diocesan Conventions. He was a member of a 
standing committee of the Diocese appointed in 1788, and a del- 
egate to the General Convention several times. 

He died at Trentham, which he inherited by his father's 
will, on the nineteenth of October, 1821, and lies buried, by 
request, in the same tomb with his brother, Arthur Cradock, 
in the shadow of the church walls. 

/iDajor ^obn (rra&ocft. 

Major John Cradock, better known as Dr. John Cradock, 
was the second son of the first Rector, and resided at "Blooms- 
bury," in Worthington Valley, the estate given him by his 
father. Like his brothers, he was highly educated, and prob- 
ably through the influence of Dr. Hulse, embraced the profes- 
sion of medicine. 

He took a leading part in the Revolution, and was a mem- 
ber of the Committee of Observation in 1774-75. He was elected 
a delegate fiom Baltimore County to the convention which met 
at Annapolis on the twenty-sixth of July, 1775, and was one of 
the signers of the Association of Freeman of Maryland. The 
committee which met on the twenty-second of April, 1776, with 
William Lux, chairman, included John Moale, Darby Lux, John 
Eager Howard, John Cradock, George Risteau and others. 

Dr. Cradock was appointed by the Council First Major of 
Soldiers' Delight Battalion, and his commission was issued on 
Saturday, May 25, 1776. He served one year in Washington's 
Flying Camp, and was present at the battle of White Plains. 
His servant and baggage were taken at Fort Washington by the 
British. Jimmy Howard said the last he saw of the servant he 
was sitting over a barrel of rum. 

On March 12, 1776, Dr. Cradock, with Drs. Wiesenthall 



158 

and Boyd, issued a call on the ladies of Baltimore for lint 
and linen for bandages. In 1777 we find his name among the 
justices who formed the County Court. 

In 1782 he was elected a member of the General Assembly. 
He was induced to run through the solicitations of bis friends, 
especially George Lux, who had a plan for establishing the 
National Capital at Annapolis, and making it, as he expressed 
it, the "Hague of America." This was the same George Lux 
who married Miss Biddle, and who rode on horseback to Boston. 
He was the son of Agnes Walker," who married William Lux, 
of Baltimore Town, and there is a cap worked by her with the 
Lux coat of arms, which she presented to Mrs. Charles Walker. 

George Lux writes to Captain Ridgely: 'T am glad to 
have got a speaker in our interest, and Deye's long acquaint- 
ance in the House will enable him to do much; for the same 
reason I wish you to go. Blackhead Charles Ridgely is clever 
and respected at Annapolis, and must not at any rate be per- 
mitted to decline, as it is said he talks of doing. Sam Worth- 
ington says he will decline if John Cradock will serve, and I 
shall make a point of gaining John's assent, and doubt it not 
a/ //lis pur/ictf/ar ^ime, although there is no man in the county 
who it suits so ill to leave home. He is the best speaker in pub- 
lic of any man I know who had not been educated as a lawj-er, 
and of a sound judgment — as a speaker we must have him.'' 

"If you do agree, I pledge myself to vote for 3'ou, Deye, C. 
Ridgely of Wm., and J. Cradock, and to get Cradock to do the 
same. Na}', I will make a point of opening the poll as a voter. 
If you can't, from business or want of sufficient health, agree to 
serve, why, I shall expect you to make a point of coming down 
early to the election and voting for me in order to convince the 
people at large ///a/ old family animosities are at an end, and that 
we draw together in the present instance." 

Cradock was talented and popular, and would have been a 
strong candidate for political honors had he chosen to continue 
in public life. He was a fine speaker, and took an active part 
in the campaigns — sometimes running to split his district in 
order to help Deye against Ridgely. He was elected a member 
of the Vestry in 1775, and annually afterwards for fifteen years. 

( i) Slif was the only child of Dr. George Walker. 



159 

He was a delegate to the First General Conventiou of the Clmrch 
in Maryland and frequently afterwards to the Diocesan Con- 
ventions. Dr. Cradock was a very handsome man, six feet tall, 
with dark hair and eyes, unusually attractive and a brilliant con- 
versationalist. At the beginning of the Revolution, Dr. Steven- 
son, of Baltimore Town, whose Tory sentiments were well known , 
was sending some things up the country for safety, when they were 
seized by the young men and burned. Dr. Stevenson, who had 
come round another way, stopped at Trentham to dine. "Oh, 
Johnny," he said, "if I had been there how I would have made 
you run." "No, doctor," Dr. Cradock laughingly replied, "if 
you had been there we would have put you on top." 

Dr. Cradock married (1776) Ann, daughter of John Wortli- 
ington, and Mary Todd, who was born as her sampler shows, 
on the thirty -first of March, 1760. 

He died in the prime of life on the fourth of October, 1794, 
aged only forty-five years, and lies interred in the churchyard 
near the tomb of his father. 

He left four daughters, Mary, Elizabeth, Katherine and 
Ann, and cne son, Dr. Arthur Cradock, who removed to Ken- 
tucky for a time and died unmarried. He was appointed sur- 
geon in 181 2, but could not serve because of ill health. Mary 
married Stephen Cromwell. Her son, Dr. John Cromwell, was 
very talented, but died young. Her daughter, Elizabeth, 
married Dr. Adair, the son of Governor and United States 
Senator Adair, of Kentucky. Katherine married her cousin. 
Dr. Thomas Cradock Walker. Ann married a Mr. Bosley, in 
Kentucky. 

Bbel Brown. 

Abel Brown came from Dumfries, Scotland, in the early 
part of the Eighteenth Century. He was warden of St. 
Thomas' Parish 1754, vestryman 1758-60. He was twice mar- 
ried. The name of his first wife is unknown. His second wife 
was Susannah, daughter of Adam Shipley. One son, Samuel, 
was killed at the Battle of Brandywine. Elias married Ann 
Cockey ; Moses married Polly Suowden ; Ruth married Thomas 
Cockey ; Rebecca married George Frazier War field. 



160 

Abel Brown was one of the founders of Holy Trinity 
Parish. He left two legacies of thirty pounds each to St. 
Thomas' Parish, one for use in providing wine for the Holy 
Communion, the other for distribution among the poor. 

Cbarles Malker. 

Charles Walker, born November 9, 1744, was the son of 
Dr. James Walker, who with his brother. Dr. George Walker, 
left Scotland in 1715 because of the part they had taken in the 
insurrection of the Earl of Mar. They were the sons of James 
Walker and Mary Thorn, of Peterhead, and "were both men of 
learning."'" They first settled in Anne Arundel but Dr. 
George Walker soon came to Baltimore County, and was one of 
the commissioners who laid off the town. He resided at 
"Chatsworth," on the west side, and his name is conspicuous in 
the early annals of Baltimore. Dr. James Walker gave up the 
practice of medicine and erected iron works below Elkridge 
Landing, engaging extensively in that business. He married 
in 1 73 1, Susannah, daughter of John Gardner, and had ten 
children. John and George were sent to Scotland to be edu- 
cated. George died there and John ran away and bound him- 
self to the King's shipyards. He returned to America and 
married a very rich woman, but they died without heirs. 

Susannah married Rev. Wm. West, afterwards Rector of 
St. Paul's. 

Charles came to Baltimore County and lived first at "Har- 
rison's Meadows," above Ovvings' Mills, part of which is now 
owned by Mr. Disney. He was married to Ann, only daughter of 
the Rev. Thomas Cradock, in September, 1772, by Rev. Mr. 
Edmiston, and removed to " Woodbourne," in Worthington 
Valley. Ann Cradock's wedding dress was of stiff white satin 
and was preserved until about forty years ago. 

Charles Walker was active in the Revolutionary cause and 
a member of the Committee of Observation. He was elected a 
vestryman of St. Thomas' in 1772 and, with a few years' 

(i) Dr. Allen say.s, "The catalogue of Dr. James' library after his death comprehends 
works in Greek, I.ati'n, medicine and theologfj', which very few physicians of the pres- 
ent dav can sluiw in theirs." 



161 

intermission during the troubles with Mr. Edmiston, continued to 
serve until the erection of St. John's in the Valley (1818), the 
site of which was donated by him. 

Charles and Ann Walker had thirteen children, all of 
whom died early in life except Dr. Thomas Cradock Walker, 
and Frances, born March 22, 1792, who married George William 
Johnson. 

Charles Walker "departed this transitory life November 

15, 1825," and was interred in the same grave with his wife, 

their tomb in the churchyard bearing the simple inscription : 

"Charles Walker and Ann, his wife, daughter of the Rev. 

Thomas Cradock." 

— K. C. 

H)r. ITbomas Cra^ocl? Mall^er. 

Dr. Thomas Cradock Walker, the oldest son of Charles 
Walker and Ann Cradock, was born at Trentham on the six- 
teenth of June, 1773, and lived with his uncle. Dr. Cradock, 
who virtually adopted him and made him his heir. He received 
a classical education, and was a man of strong individuality and 
scholarly attainments. 

Following what seems to have been the bent of the family, 
he chose the profession of medicine, and attended lectures at the 
University of Pennsylvania. He served with distinction as 
surgeon in the war of 1812-14, and had charge of hospitals at 
Burlington and Plattsburgh which he conducted with such un- 
exampled success as to win the flattering encomiums of both 
medical and military men. In a letter to his uncle from Bur- 
lington in February, 18 14, he mentions the honor of an official 
visit from General Wilkinson, and adds, "I should be vain of 
his approbation had T not done my best. He takes every op- 
portunity of expressing his delight by saying he never saw a 
hospital (twenty large rooms) in such a situation, and assured 
me publickly that he would mention my services." " 'Tis a 
laborious task, but I trust I shall continue to discharge it with 
honor to myself and satisfaction to my country." 

Dr. Walker was an ardent admirer of Masonry and of the 
high standards advocated by the order, and received the degree 
of Royal Arch Mason while in Vermont in 1815. 



162 

He took an active interest in the Church, and in all that 
pertained to its welfare. It was by his efforts that the wall was 
built around the churchj^ard, and the subscriptions and expen- 
ditures can be seen in his private ledger- Most of the traditions 
of the parish have come to us through him. He was born only 
three years after the death of the first Rector, and could remem- 
ber distinctly from the Revolution. The incidents of its earlier 
history he heard from the lips of Dr. Cradock himself, and any 
statement he had made could scarcely be disputed. He was 
exact in the smallest detail, and never said what he did not 
know to be absolutely true. 

Dr. Walker was married February 15, 181 8, by Rev. Mr. 
Armstrong, to his cousin, Katherine, daughter of Dr. John 
Cradock, a woman of rare character whose virtues are still re- 
membered. They were born in the same room, married in the 
same house, and died in the room in which they were born. By 
an Act of the Legislature he had the Walker dropped from the 
names of his two sons, Thomas Cradock and John Cradock, as a 
token of gratitude to his uncle. Thomas Cradock was born May 
16, 1819, and John, who died when only twenty-seven, on Sep- 
tember 2, 1821. His father had intended that he live at Pill 
Box, which then comprised a large number of acres, and was 
adding improvements at the time of his death. 

Dr. Walker did not engage in practice in the recollection 
of his children, except as a favor and gratuitously. He was a 
strong advocate for out-of-door exercise, deeming it the chief 
means of prolonging life, and within a few years of his death 
walked to Baltimore leading his horse. He clung to the fashion 
of his younger days, and always wore blue clothes with plain 
brass buttons. 

He died on the thirty-first of May, i860, retaining his fac- 
ulties unimpaired, at the advanced age of eighty -seven. 

There is a portrait of him when a boy of eleven, painted by 
his cousin, Billy West, son of Rev. William West, of St. Paul's. 
The following account is taken from Dr. Allen's Mss. History 
of St. Paul's Parish; 

"George William (West) was an artist of much promise. 
He studied under the celebrated Benjamin West, of London, 
with whom Mr. Trumbull then was. Among the letters of 



163 

introduction, which he carried with him to London, was one from 
his father's friend, General Washington. Young West, with- 
out any instruction, had attained to much celebrity at home 
before he went to London. Likenesses painted by him are still 
shown as West's painting. He was very gratifyingly received 
by Mr. West, and by his favor, admitted into the Academy of 
Fine Arts, in the most complimentary manner. He had in- 
tended to have staid there three years, and then to have gone 
to Italy. With this view Archbisbop Carroll sent him a very 
flattering letter to his friend there. But before the end of 
eighteen months in London he took the measles, his lungs be- 
came seriously aflfected, and he was compelled to return home 
early in 1790, unable to pursue his favorite employment. He 
lingered along, however, till 1795, in which year he died— 
single." 

3oBepb XKIlest. 

Registrar 1805-1813. 

Joseph West was another most efficient vestryman of the 
church and registrar for a number of years. He belonged to 
the Massachusetts family of that name and was captain in the 
Massachusetts Line, but being a good clerk was deputed for 
work of that sort. He came to Maryland after the close of the 
Revolution and married Violetta Howard. 

He was a very cultivated, intellectual man, quite short in 
stature, and always walking with a very tall cane. For years 
he was a familiar figure in the parish. 

Mr. and Mrs. West lived at first beyond her brother 
Cornelius, but they afterwards removed to the old place, where 
they died. Though lame from a fall from her horse, Mrs. 
West was always a regular attendant at the church, and the 
recollections of her are most kindly and affectionate. 

IRev. QcovQc IRalpb. 

In 1809 Rev. George Ralph, known as "Parson Ralph," 
came to St. Thomas' Parish from Charlotte Hall and opened a 
school at "Pomona," just northwest of Pikesville. He was 



164 

well known in his day and was associated in various ways with 
many of the most prominent men in the State. He ranked high 
as an educator ; and was an accomplished scholar and an elo- 
quent preacher. 

He was of Irish descent, though born in England, and after 
his education was finished devoted his life to teaching. He 
possessed unusual personality and was a most original character. 

At one time he had a school in Ireland for young men. 
The races were to be held nearb}- and he forbade his pupils to 
attend. They rebelled against the decree and locked him out. 
He first politely requested them, "Young gentlemen, open the 
door," but no response was vouchsafed. "Young gentlemen, I 
etitreat you to open the door," again no answer. "Young gen- 
tlemen, I command you to open the door," and as they still de- 
fied him. he sent for the officers and had them all arrested and 
kept in jail until the races were over. 

When he was about to be married he had only two days to 
reach the home of his bride. The first day there was such a 
drenching rain that he determined to wait over at the inn for 
the morrow. In the morning there was the same steady down- 
pour, but he was obliged to pursue on his journey or not be 
present at the wedding. He reached there just in time, but his 
leather breeches were soaking wet and he could not get them 
off. Nothing daunted, however, he stood up and was married 
in his wet breeches. His wife was a Miss DeButts, who came to 
America with him. 

The first we hear of him is in Baltimore Town where he 
opened a school in 1790. The next year he was ordained by 
Bishop White, and tried to induce St. Paul's Vestry to appoint 
him "to get up a church at Fells' Point," but, though he 
pressed the matter very strongly, his efforts were not successful- 
In the report of the convention of 1792 he is mentioned as Rec- 
tor of Shrewsbury Parish, Kent. He then applied for the 
rectorship of St. Thomas', and the following letter was laid 
before the Vestry : 

Baltimore, March 13, 1793. 

Sir : — Observing that the Parish of St. Thomas' is still 
vacant ; permit me to acquaint the Vestry and parishioners that 
I will attend the church upon any day appointed by them. A 



165 

mutual opportunity will thus be offered ; to them, of approving or 
rejecting me, and to me of respectfully hearing their proposals. 

I have the honor to be, sir, your most humble servant, 

George Ralph. 
Dr. Thomas Cradock, Garrettson Forest. 

Favored by Mr. Philbin. 
A draft of the answer is on the back. 

Rev. Sir : — Your application was laid before the Vestry of 
St. Thomas' on Easter-Monday last. Confident that you would 
not answer as a clergyman for that parish, they wish not to give 
you the trouble of riding up. We wish you all happiness and 
success. By order of the Vestry. 

His application being thus summarily dismissed, he went 
to South Sassafras, Kent County, and in 1795 was called to be 
first Rector of the newly-formed Washington Parish, D. C. As 
was usual with him he established a school, and entered with 
interest upon his Church work. He sent out circulars through- 
cut the country urging subscriptions for the erection of a suita- 
ble church edifice in what "was to be the Metropolis of Confed- 
erated America." He tells Bishop Claggett, "It seems diffi- 
cult, I admit, to move me, but when set agoing I gain force by 
my own velocity." 

In 1800 he was elected principal of Charlotte Hall School, 
one of the oldest seats of learning in the State, and in connec- 
tion with this was Rector of Trinity Parish, Charles, and then 
of All Faith's, St. Mary's. In writing to Bishop Claggett he 
says that he "adverts to his work to prevent a supposition that 
other charges have risen superior to his clerical duty." He 
presents to the Bishop's notice the irregularities practised at 
Pickawaxen, where the "Vestry keeps the parish vacant, rent 
the house and glebe, and themselves read prayers and preach , 
with two exceptions, in rotation." 

Parson Ralph was a strict disciplinarian and the boys were 
greatly in awe of him. He was gruff in manner but he wrote 
of them as his "large family," and his sternness was tempered 
by kindness. 

Some one told him one day that the boys were robbing his 
orchard. He walked out and, turning his back, began to pro- 
test most vociferously, "Who dares say my boys steal apples. 



166 

They are gentlemen's sons. Who dares say they steal." The 
boys sneaked away and Parson Ralph's apples were never again 
disturbed. 

At another time he got into some difficulty with a man who 
intimated that "only his cloth protected him." This was more 
than his Irish spirit could stand. "Sir," he would say, when 
relating the story, "I took off my coat and laying it down, said, 
"Lie there, Divinity, while I chastise Rascality." And he 
gave the man a "confounded drubbing." 

The charges made against Parson Ralph while in St. Mary's 
seem to have been disproven and were evidently the outcome of 
personal dislike or envy. 

After remaining at Charlotte Hall for nine years he came 
again to Baltimore in 1809 and opened the Academy near Pikes- 
ville. He served for two years, from 18 10, as Rector of Trinity 
Church, Baltimore, and was invited to officiate at St. Thomas' 
whenever he could make it convenient. He seems to have 
borne the Vestry no ill will for their refusal to accept him as 
Rector and they met in most friendly intercourse. 

Parson Ralph was four times a member of the standing 
committee, and a few weeks before his death was appointed to 
the chair of Rhetoric in the University of Maryland. 

He died at Pomona in May, 18 15, and was buried in a 
group of cedars on the hillside, the spot where he desired to be 
laid. The hand of time has obliterated all trace of the lonely 
grave and there is now not even a common stone to mark his 
last resting place. Parson Ralph left a son and daughter, John 
and Elizabeth, who were living in Baltimore in 1826, and died 
unmarried. They called Dr. and Mrs. DeButts, of Mt. Welby, 
Prince George's County, uncle and aunt. 

1Rex>. 3acob B. /iDorss. 

Rev. Jacob B. Morss, twelfth Rector of St. Thomas' Parish, 
was born March 6, 1809, at Newport, Mass. His ancestor, one 
of the original grantees of the Crown, came to this country from 
Wiltshire, England, in 1635, and settled near the above place. 
The Rev. Mr. Morss' father was the Rev. James Morss. D. D., 
editor and founder of the "Church Repository," the first Church 



167 

paper in what was then the Eastern Diocese. He succeeded 
Bishop Bass as Rector of St. Paul's Church in his native town— 
their combined rectorship covering a period of ninety years. He 
was educated in public schools, and afterward was a student at 
the General Theological Seminary, New York. Subsequently 
he studied under the direction of Bishop Ives in North Carolina. 
He was ordered Deacon in the Monumental Church, Richmond, 
Va., November 26, 1840, by Richaid Channing Moore, Bishop 
of Virginia, acting by request of Bishop Ives. His first charge 
was Christ Church, Elizabeth City, N. C, 1840-42 Afterwards, 
Trinity Church, Pottsville, Pa., 1842-45, where he was advanced 
to the priesthood on the twenty-third of November, 1842, by 
Henry U. Onderdonk, Bishop of Pennsylvania; Grace Church, 
Waterford, N. Y., 1846-47; St. Thomas', Baltimore County, 
1849-50; St. John's, Carlisle, Pa., 1851-61. 

At various times during the latter part of his life he tem- 
porarily filled vacancies in Baltimore at Grace and Emmanuel 
Churches, and finally was elected on the staff of clergy at Mt. 
Calvary. He died in Baltimore, October 24, 1874. 

Mr. Morss married, in 1842, Mary Ann Southgate, daughter 
of John Southgate, Esq., of Norfolk, Va. 

In his diary I find: "Ascension, May 17, 1849. Mr. R. H. 
Owen called on me this morning with an invitation from the 
Wardens and Vestry, of St. Thomas' Parish, to take the rector- 
ship of that church. ' ' 

"May i8th. Rev. J. C. Tracy made me a visit this morn- 
ing respecting my invitation to St. Thomas' and the church at 
Rockville. Made up my mind to accept the invitation to St. 
Thomas'." 

"May 22d. Wrote my answer of acceptance of the rector- 
ship of St. Thomas'." 

"Whit Sunday, May 27, 1849. Preached my first sermon 
at St. Thomas' today." 

"First Sunday after Trinity. Wore a surplice for the first 
time." 

Before that time for many years the surplice had been in 
disuse and the black silk gown used. He also notes his usual 
custom of conducting divine service with sermon at 4 P. M. at 
Hannah More Academy. 



168 

During Mr. Morss' rectorship there still lingered in his 
congregation a few sons and daughters of our colonial ances- 
tors — remote from our present life in their ideals and in their con- 
servatism. Their Sundays were puritanical in strictness. In 
form their religion was simplicity to bareness, but some week 
day amenities were very dear to their hearts, which, to our 
more modern way of viewing things, savor of the inconsistent. 
Quite public and very much to the point, must have been the 
reproof as related by a very old lad}' (Mrs. Frazer), whose father 
(Mr. Brian Philpot) was a prominent member and vestryman of 
the parish. With unction she would say he could not stand it, 
and would step out of his pew upon the brick pavement after the 
service, shake his cane at one here and one there, and roundly 
reprove them for some shortcomings. 

On another occasion, she said, violent opposition met the 
introduction of the organ. Accustomed as they had been to 
congregational singing such an innovation appeared rank heresy. 
One old woman, whose opposition had been most bitter, testified 
outwardly to her pent up feelings by the most despairing groans. 

Yet there was a frankness in life and an earnestness of pur- 
pose which should give us pain and make us ask, If all has been 
gain which we call progress ? 

J. M S. Morss. 



NoTK. — The sketches ot" the Gists, the Howards, the Caniaiis, Capt. John Risteaii, tht- 
I.yon family, the Worthingtons, Dr. Handle Hulse, Dr. Thomas Cradock. Major John 
Cradock, Charles Walker, Dr. Thomas Cradock Walker, Jo.seph West and Ktv George 
Ralph were written by Miss Katherine Cradock. of Trentham. 



Hppenbix 



171 



HppenMi "H." 

The Colonial Fort. 

The Rev. George A. Leakin, D.D., in 1893, delivered an 
address before the McDonogh School, which was afterward 
printed at the school, in which he produced considerable 
evidence that an old stone building, still in existence on what 
was Captain Risteau's plantation, now owned by Mr. Charles 
Moore, is the original fort built in 1693. It is of stone, twenty 
feet by fifty feet, with small openings which look like embrasures 
for musketry. The interior contains a fire-place, which is evidence 
that it was not built for a barn, and accords with the order of the 
Council of Maryland, in 1692, that three forts should be built, 
in which should be a dwelling sufficient to accommodate a captain 
and nine soldiers. The proof which Dr. Leakin brings forward 

is as follows: 

In August, 1696, Governor Nicholson called on Capt. John 
Oldham, then commanding the Garrison, for a report of its 
location, who thus replied: "An account of the roads made 
back of the Inhabitants by the Rangers of Baltimore County " 
[the present Baltimore Town not then existing] "northeast from 
the Garrison to the first cabin, fifteen miles. Northeast to the 
second cabin, fifteen miles or thereabouts, then ten miles further 
on the same course to another cabin on the north side of Deer 
Creek. Likewise from the Garrison to a cabin between Gwynn's 
Falls and the main falls of Patapsco a west course, ten miles: 
then with a west course to the main falls of Patapsco, ten miles, 
which said road being marked and duly and weekly ranged by 
me and my lieutenant according to order of Council." A meas- 
urement on the map corroborates the above distances. 

In 1697 Capt. John Oldham and Capt. Richard Brightwell 
reported to the Governor the same measurements with some 
important detail, viz : that the nearest inhabitants were sixteen 
miles beyond Deer Creek on the east, and on the west the 
nearest inhabitants were fourteen miles beyond the north branch 



172 

of the Patapsco, making a distance of eighty miles between 
inhabitants. The other important fact was that this fort was 
four miles east of Gwynn's Falls and twelve miles west of the 
Great Gunpowder. 

The reported distances are thus proved: — two miles from 
the fort to Pikesville, and two miles thence to Gwynn's Falls by 
the map, and also twelve miles to the Gunpowder, allowing for 
turns in the pioneer road. 

Capt. John Oldham, appointed Commander in 1696, was 
from that part of Baltimore Count}' (now Cecil) where his 
ancestors resided. His name is variously spelled Oulson, Olton, 
Oldham. While captain he obtained a patent for all the 
surrounding property, including the fort known as " Oul ton's 
Garrison" (probably a stockade in 1680). Here he built a 
house, or part of the present house, and in 1699 conveyed his 
property to Thomas Cromwell and James Murray. In 1700 
Murray became sole possessor, and in 1701 sold the place to 
William Talbot, whose widow married John Risteau, high- 
sheriff of Baltimore County, who in 1742 commanded the 
garrison. 

James Murray had surveyed "Counterscarp," which with 
Oulton's Garrison descended to Josephus Murray, his eldest 
son. " Counterscarp was surveyed " by Josephus and a second 
time patented to him. He then conveyed " Oulton's Garrison " 
and "Counterscarp" (except such parts as had been before 
sold) to Richard Croxhall, about 1747, who resurveyed both 
properties and took patent by the name of " Garrison." 

What does this word ' ' Coimterscarp ' ' suggest ? 

The only suggestion is a fort with its counterscarp, long 
since obliterated but once existing here. 

Let us briefly glance at what might be called the internal 
evidence, or proof, from the peculiarities noticeable in the 
structure of this building. 

It being acknowledged that there is no history or even 
tradition of its having been built for any other purpose, it is 
fair to infer for it a great age. 

On any other theory than that it was built for a fort certain 
important questions cannot be answered; for example — Why 
was it built, contrary to custom in such an early day, at great 



173 

trouble and expense, of stone, with walls of unusual thickness ? 
Why were the windows made so small (too small to admit the 
body of a man) if intended simply for light and ventilation ? 
Why do they broaden sharply inward, forming an embrasure, 
except for use of firearms ? Let it be remembered that in the 
fort, before the new roof was put on, there were no windows, below 
the line of the eaves, larger than a foot square. The idea that 
it was built for a barn is disproved by the fact that it con- 
tains a large fireplace, and what is most significant the 
chimney is inside the building rather than on the outside, 
which was the custom in early times ; but the inside method was 
much better for defence. Why was the roof so extraordinarily 
steep, except that thus it could be built of stone and consequently 
be secure against fire, the most dreaded weapon of the savages ? 

Why was the door sill placed three feet from the ground if the 
building was intended for either barn or house ? Such a door 
would be better for defence but most inconvenient for a dwell- 
ing. 

The question naturally rises, " Why was so little known of the 
Garrison fort, so near and so easy of access ? " This question is 
not hard to answer by any student of Maryland history. Two 
hundred and sixty years have passed since the Colonists came to 
St. Mary's, and for two hundred and ten years, until the forma- 
tion of the Maryland Historical Society, no organized effort was 
made to preserve the records of the past, except legislative and 
ecclesiastical proceedings. 

This Garrison fort has a peculiar value, in that it is the oldest 
permanent fort in Maryland. Fort Cumberland's site is occupied 
by a church. Fort Frederick, built in 1760, still partially exists. 
No trace of the forts in St Mary's City or Mattapony, Piscata- 
way or the Indian fort on Spesutiae Island exists. There is one 
near Annapolis, named originally Fort Beeman and now Fort 
Madison, the date of its origin uncertain. Now, as Revolution- 
ary relics, a sword or a chair, are held in high esteem, how much 
more should we preserve a fort built to defend our frontier in 
1693, and again used for the same defence against the French and 
Indians in 1755 by Captain John Risteau, sheriff of Baltimore 
County. 



174 



appenDti **36." 
List of contributors toward building the church, 1743: 

TOBACCO. CURRENCY 
LBS. £ S. D. 

Benedict Bourdillon 2,000 

Joseph Cromwell 400 

Edward Fotterall 300 

Christopher Randall 300 

Charles Ridgely 3 10 o 

Thomas Harrison 300 

John Hamilton 300 

Francis Dorsey 100 

John Bailey ........ 200 

Stephen Wilkinson 150 

William Murphy 100 

Dorsey Peddicoart 150 

William Petticoart i 10 o 

William Hammond 500 

Peter Gosnell 10 o 

Thomas Gist 10 o 

Samuel Owings 100 

Nathaniel Gist 100 

Mayberry Helm 100 

Thomas Wells 10 o 

George Ashman 300 

Darby Lux 300 

John Baker . • 10 o 

John Risteau 500 

George Ogg 500 

Joshua Sewall 100 

Richard Treadway 10 o 

Richard Bond 10 o 

Edward Choate ....... 10 o 

John Thomas 10 o 

Anthony Brayford ro o 

John Simkins 10 o 

Henny Seabor 10 o 

Peter Maigers 10 o 



175 



TOBACCO 
LBS. 

Hector Truley ... ... 

John Stinchcomb 

William Lewis 

Peter Bond 

John Shippard 

Stephen Hunt Owings .... 

William Brown 

John Derample 

Nathaniel Stinchcomb .... 

Benjamin Bond 

Joseph Murray, Jr 

John Hawkins 

Joshua Owings 

John Bowen loo 

Christopher Sewall 

Thomas Bond 

Joseph Cornelius 

Edmund Howard 

Jona. Tipton 

William Newell 

George Bailey Gar 

Stephen Gill 

William Tipton 

John Bell 

John Thrasher 

Robert Chapman, Sr 

Nicholas Haile 

Penelope Deye 

Neale Haile 

Thomas Coale, Jr 

John Wood loo 

Jona. Plowman 

William Cockey 

Richard Wilmott 

Capt. Samuel Gray 

Total . 4.400 64 10 





KKKJ 

s. 


D. 




10 





I 










10 







10 







10 







10 







10 







10 


{) 


I 










10 





2 


10 





I 








I 










10 







10 







10 







10 







10 





I 










10 







10 







10 







10 





I 










5 





4 








I 


10 








5 







5 







5 







5 







5 





3 









170 

HppenOti '*(!." 

Journal of the Secretary of the Commission to Treat 
WITH THE Indians. 

The journal of the Secretary of the Commission to the Six 
Nations, William Marshe, is still preserved and has been edited 
by Dr. Wm. H. Egle, Harrisburg, Pa. The following extracts 
are given as of interest in this connection: 

Saturday, June i6, 1744. This day the Hon. Edmund Jen- 
nings and the Hon. Philip Thomas, Esqs., of the Council of 
State in Maryland, having heretofore been appointed (by a special 
power from his Excellency, Thomas Bladen, Esq., Governor, 
under his hand and by seal of that Province) Commissioners for 
treating with the Six Nations on behalf of the Province, concern- 
ing some lands claimed by them and to renew all former treaties 
betwixt the Six Nations and this Government, agreed to proceed 
on their embassy. I was required by them to stay at Annapolis 
and receive the bills of exchange from Mr. Ross, Clerk of the 
Council, and after receiving them on Sundajs p. m., I went to 
Mr. Thomas where I lodged that night. 

Monday, June 18, 1744. Breakfasted at Mr. Thomas' about 
8 o'clock this morning and soon set out wuth him and the Rev. 
Mr. Cradock (who accompanied us in quality of Chaplain of the 
Maryland Commissioners) for Patapsco. 

Monday evening in Baltimore County, I left Mr. Thomas and 
the Rev. Parson at the Ordinary, and went to Mr. Robert North's, 
where I supped with some blithe company, and from thence 
returned to Mr. Roger's Ordinary in Baltimore Town. ' Mr. Bour- 
dillon, minister of this parish, visited his brother-of-the-cloth 
and stayed with us till near eleven o'clock this night. 

June 24, 1 744. Mr. Commissioner Jennings asked me to copy 
the speech to be made by him, in the name of the Governor of 
Maryland to the Indians in the court-house tomorrow evening. 
This and transcribing some copies of it busied me so much that 
I could not go to the court-house where divine service, according 
to the Church of England, was performed by my fellow traveler, 
the Rev. Mr. Cradock, to a numerous audience this day. He 



177 



also preached a very good sermon which met the approbation of 
several gentlemen present. 

HppeuDix "2)." 

Bachelors Taxed in St. Thomas' Parish.— 1756-1763- 

"About this time (1756) there was an Act passed by the 
General Assembly, in order to repay the money expended in 
protecting the frontier, to tax all bachelors, twenty-five years 
of age and upwards, worth i,ioo and under ^300, about seventy - 
five cents each, and all worth i:3oo and upwards. $2.66. The 
return of these taxes was required to be made by the Parish 
Vestries The following named bachelors of St. Thomas' Parish 
were returned during the eight years of its continuance, as here 
exhibited." Some who began on the £100 list were returned 
afterward on the i;300 list, and some married and escaped the 
tax : j^gg ^^ jg 5g 60 61 62 63 



tr 



I tr 



/■lOO AND UNDER ^300. 

1756 57 5S 59 60 61 6 
Jeremiah Johnson . 
Reese Bowen . . ■ 
William Cole . 
Thomas Harvey 
Richard Rawlings . 
Edward Stevenson. 
Huge Grayworlh . 
Charles Howard 
Bale Ovvings . 

Samuel Owings, Jr. 
John Doughaday . 

Nathan Cromwell . 

Richard Hooker 

Nath'l Stinchcoml). 

Walter Bosley . . 

John Fishpaw . . 

William Barney, J r 

Anthony Gott . . 

Abel Brown, Jr . . 

Thomas Hooker . 



I Ir 
I Ir 
1 tr 
I tr 
I I 
I tr 



Michael Huffand 
Aquila Price . . 
M'd'c'i Hammond 
Hy Stevenson, Ed 
,Saml Bond of P'fr 
Wm Harvey, Jr. . 
John Gibbon . . 
Thomas Johnson . 

OVER ^300. 
Thos Cocke. Deye 
Benjamin Whipps 
Jeremiah John.son 
Saml Worthinglon 
Nath'l stinchcoml) 
John Doughaday . 
Bale Owings . . 
Samuel Owings.Jr. 
Edw'd Perritaney 
Nathan Cromwell 
Reese Boweu . • 



178 

appeitc>ti **£.' 

Correspondence Between Rev. Dr. John Andrews and 
Dr. Thomas Cradock. 

Letter of T. Cradock, Esq., to Dr. Andrews concerning 
Dr. Smith. 

Baltimore, October 27, 1786. 

Rev. and Dear Sir. — Your favor was given me on my way 
to our convention, and I take per post the opportunity of giving 
you the earliest notice of the step I took respecting Dr. 
Smith. 

Mr. Johnson was the only lay delegate there except myself; 
him with Dr. West I consulted and the conclusion was that Mr. 
Johnson and myself addressed Dr. Smith upon the subject. He 
persevered in his resolution — denied the charge and insisted 
upon the information you gave to be laid before the convention 
(which was in fact intended), that a proper investigation might 
be made and his innocency proved. 

The matter stands thus at present. He will insist upon 
your proving the charge of intoxication, and it is necessary to 
be done (as it is so strenuously required ) before the next con- 
vention, when the matter will be taken into consideration. The 
Doctor required of me an extract of your letter, which was 
granted, and will, I make not the least doubt, write to you on 
the subject. It gives me real pleasure that the matter is in this 
train, as our convention may now act with a proper consistency, 
and their conduct reflect no dishonor on the Church or them- 
selves. Your affectionate servant. — T. Cradock. 

Letter from Dr. Andrews to Dr Thomas Cradock. 

Philadelphia, November 6, 1786. 

Dear Sir. — .... As to the showing of my letter to 
Dr. Smith you were undoubtedly wrong. You ma}' remember 
that you told me last spring that you had seen him some time 
before very drunk in Baltimore. You had it in your power 
then to produce one or the other of two testimonies against 
him ; or in other words, to expose as you think proper, either 
yourself or me to his resentment, and it would have been more 



179 

generous to have chosen the former. But, in fact, there was 
not the least occasion for either of these measures to have been 
taken ; and all that the convention needed to have done more 
upon the Doctor's business, was to have addressed him in some 
such manner as this: "So often and so publickly have you exhib- 
ited a want of self government in a particular instance that 
your character in this respect is now everywhere well known, 
and the prejudices of the people against it, of course univers- 
ally established ; some of us have seen it with our own eyes ; 
all have had sufiScient testimony concerning it ; and therefore 
we, the laity, will never allow that our names shall be affixed to 
your testimonials ; it is an insult upon our imderstanding, and 
the sense we must be supposed to entertain of common decency, 
to ask it." The clerical members to express the same convic- 
tion with respect to his unfitness and to have revoked the ap- 
pointment. 

However, I am far from being uneasy about the matter ; 
and since nobody else in so long a time would venture to step 
forth upon the occasion, must endeavor as much as I can to 
make a kind of merit of attempting it at length myself though 
it were only by accident. 

I am happy in the accounts you give me of Mrs. Croxal 
and Mrs. Buchanan. I hope that all the troubles which 
Providence ordained for them are now over, and that the 
rest of their days will be full of comfort. You are certainly 
very right with respect to my attachment to Miss Gittings, 
though not right perhaps in bantering her about it. Female 
youth and beauty can seldom fail to be attracting, must be so 
to an uncommon degree when to them is added great gentleness 
and sweetness, sincerity and goodness. I am, dear sir, yours 
effectionately, John Andrews. 

Dr. Thomas Cradock, care the Rev. Dr. West. Baltimore. 
Favored by Mr. Ryan. 

Letter from Dr. Andrews to Dr. Thomas Cradock. 

Philadelphia, January 12, 1791. 

Dear Sir.— I received your favor of the first ultimo, and 
thank you for the cheerfulness with which you undertake to 
comply with my request. Agreeably to your wish, I have sent 



180 

down the bond by Dr. Falls, who is to deposit it with our com- 
mon friend, Mr. Johnston. 

I am much flattered by the regard which you and your 
good family express for Mrs. Andrews and myself, who very 
cordially joins with me in returning it, and in wishing you all 
manner of happiness. I assure you that as often as I set myself 
to form an idea of a pleasing and tranquil life, I go back to that 
little brick house at Owensburgh, once not sufficiently valued 
by me. In imagination I sometimes walk and sometimes ride 
along the road which leads from it to hospitable Trentham. I 
dine with you, with Mr. Johnston, with Dr. Lyon, Mrs. Croxal, 
Mrs. Buchanan, Mr. Carnan, and the whole neighborhood. I 
have only to lament that one or two of those, whose names I 
have mentioned, are not now so happy as they formerly were. 
You will easily conceive that I allude to the severe affliction 
since experienced by Mrs. Croxall and Mrs. Buchanan.' '' I 
have also heard that my favorite. Miss Gittings (now Mrs. C.) 
for whom I certainly entertained a great partiality, has of late 
had her health very badly. Her sister Betsey was up here 
sometime last summer, but just as I was beginning to be infat- 
uated with her also, she unkindly went away and left us. 

Under your family, mentioned above, I include your 
brother's and Mr. Walker's, but I should be glad if in your 
next you would inform me whether they still continue to live in 
the same places, and how they prosper. With much respect, I 
am, dear sir, yours aflfectionately, John Andrews. 

Dr. Thos. Cradock, Garrison Forest. 

appeuMi ''jf. ' 

Chanting — Its Introduction into this Country by Rev. 

Thomas Fitch Oliver, 

Chanting: Its first introduction into the American church. 
A letter of the late Rev. Andrew Oliver, D. D., Professor in 
the General Theological Seminary. 

(i) The Croxall's lived at the old place, now owned bj- Mr. Charles T. Cockey. It 
was repatented as "Garrison" in 1747. by Richard Croxall, and the family rest in the 
graveyard there. James Cro.xall. Richard's nephew, married Xellic Gittinp.*, whose grace 
and beauty seemed to attract such general attention. 



181 

New York, January 9, 1895. 
My Dear Mr. Smith. — I do not know that I can add any- 
thing to the very nice sketch of my grandfather which you sent 
me and which I herewith return. But I venture to send you an 
article which appeared a few years ago, I think in the Church- 
man, on "Chanting, its first introduction into the American 
Church," and I should like very much to know whether my 
grandfather continued the practice in St Thomas' Church. 

" Not many years ago an article on the first introduction ot 
chanting in the Church in the United States appeared in the third 
volume of ' Potters Historical Record,' from which it appears 
that this ancient custom was first attempted in St. George's, 
Beekman street. New York, in the year 1813 This seems to 
have been brought about by the efforts of the Rev. Wm. Smith, 
a Scotchman, who was ordained here in 1788, subsequently held 
cures in Maryland and Rhode Island, and in 1792 was chosen 
President of the General Convention. While connected with 
that body he made several vain attempts to receive its sanction to 
the introduction of the chant, but regarded as this was at the 
time as a relic of a dark period in the Church history, the con- 
vention set its face against it as an unwarrantable innovation and 
nothing was then effected. At length, however, by the persist- 
ent efforts of Mr. Smith, after much opposition, chanting was 
attempted in the above-mentioned church in 18 13, to the great 
discomfort of the parish and its wardens. It is stated that it 
caused great indignation among the people, and at least says the 
writer, Mr. Ernest Van Wagenen, a warden of the church, unable 
any longer to repress his overflowing anger arose and exclaimed: 
'Away, away with your Jewish gibborish; we want no such non- 
sense in the House of God; give us the Psalter and Hymns as of 
old,' and walked out of the church. Boss Walton, he of old 
Walton House in Franklin Square followed, saying: ' I go too,' 
when several others also left the church." 

It will be seen, however, from the following testimony that 
this ancient practice was revived at a much earlier date in an 
obscure parish on the shores of Massachusetts Bay, and this with- 
out in the least disturbing the equilibrium of priest and people. 
In a letter of the Rev. Thomas Fitch Oliver, the Rector of St. 
Michaels, Marblehead, dated December 24, 1787, he writes to his 



182 

father who then resided in the neighboring town of Salem, as fol- 
lows: "As tomorrow is Christmas we design to introduce chant- 
ing into our church." It appears from his next letter that " the 
chanting was performed before a very crowded audience of church- 
men and dissenters, and to general acceptation.'' In a subse- 
quent letter dated February ir, 1788, he writes: "Will it give 
you any pleasure to learn that the quire at St. Michael's do con- 
stantly chant the Venite, the Te Deum, and in the afternoon the 
Cantateand the Nunc dimittis to just acceptation. This I assure 
you is the case, and I believe mine is almost the only church on the 
continent in which this is done." It appears therefore that more 
than twenty years before the chant had grated so hard on the 
Dutch ears of New Amsterdam it had become an honored custom 
in Puritan Massachusetts. 

My grandfather died the twenty-sixth of January 1 797 . This 
date is on his mourning ring which I have. My father. Dr. 
Daniel Oliver, the youngest, but one of Mr. Oliver's sons, used 
to tell me when a boy of his early life at Garrison Forest. 

With many thanks for your great courtesy, believe me, my 
dear sir, very sincerely yours, Andrew Oliver. 

Rev. Hobart Smith. 

Hppenbix (B. 

Incumbents, or Rectors. 

1745, February 4, (i.) Rev. Thomas Cradock, A. M., died 
May 7, 1770. 

1770, May 9, (2.) Rev. William Edmiston, A. M , left Septem- 
ber 10, 1775. 

1775, September 10, vacant 3 months, to December 10, 1775. 

1775, December 10, (3.J Rev. Thomas Hopkinson, A. M., left 
December 10. 1776. 

1776, December 10, vacant 3 years, four months, to April 3, 

1780. 

1780, April 3, (4.) Rev. William West, D. D., every third Sun- 
day to April 3, 1782. 

1782, April 10, (5.) Rev. John Andrews, D. D., one-half his 
time, to April 10, 1785 



183 

1785, April 10, vacant 8 years; 2 months, to June 3, 1793. 
1793, June 3, (6.) Rev. Thomas F. Oliver, A. M., died January 

26, 1797. 
1797, October 5, vacant i year, 6 months, to April 8, 1799. 
1799, April 8, (7.) Rev. John Coleman, removed December 8, 

1804. 

1804, December 8, vacant 10 months, to October i, 1805. 

1805, Oct. I, (8.) Rev. John Armstrong, removed March, 1810. 
1 8 10, March, vacant 2 years, 9 months, to December 28, 181 2. 
18 12, December 28, (9.) Rev. John Chandler, removed Decem- 
ber 28, 1814. 

1 8 14, December 28, vacant 3 years, 10 months, to November 2, 
1818. 

1818, November 2, (10.) Rev. Joseph Jackson, removed Novem- 

ber 29, 1819. 

1819, November 29, vacant r year, i month, to Dec. i, 1820. 

1820, December 20, (11.) Rev. Charles C. Austin, A. M., died 

February 9, 1849. 
1849, February 9, vacant, to May 14, 1849. 

1849, May 14, (12.) Rev. Jacob B. Morss, A. M., removed 
November 25, 1850. 

1850, November 25, (13.) Rev. John J. Nicholson, removed 
April 22, 1852. 

1852, April 22, vacant, to December 5, 1852. 

1852, December 5, (14.) Rev. William F. Lockwood, died 

April I, 1883. 
Rev. W. Strother Jones, Assistant Minister, from April 1, 1879 

to April I, 1883. 
1883, April I, (15.-) Rev. W. Strother Jones, resigned September 

14, 1888. 
1888, December 25, (16.) Rev. Hobart Smith. 



184 

BppenDii "lb." 

Wardens and Vestrymen St. Thomas' Par;sh.'" 

V designates Vestryman : w, Warden ; r, Registrar ; d, 
Delegate to the Diocesan Convention. 

John Gill, V 1745, w 1746, v 1754-56. 
William Cockey, v 1745, 1755-56. 
Nath'l Stinchcomb, v 1745-46. 
John Hamilton, v 1745-46. 

Joshua Ovvings, v 1745-46, \v 1747, v 1752 54, w 1766. 
George Ashman, v 1745, 1746, 1750. 
Peter Gosnell, w 1745, v 1752-54. 
Cornelius Howard, w 1745, v 1751-53, 1758 60. 
Christopher Randall, r 1745-47, '51. 
^ John Bond, v 1745-47, 1764-66. 
Nathan Bowen, v 1745-47. 
John Hawkins, v 1746 48, r 1748-49. 
Thomas Norris, v 1746-48. 
Wm. Beazeman, w 1746 and 1768. 
Wm. Hamilton, v 1746. 
Henry Morgan, v 1747. 
Thomas Gist, v 1747-49, ^ 1765. 
Richard Bond, w 1747, v 1759-61. 
John Wilmott, Jr., v 1747-49, ^ 1752. 
- Peter Bond, v 1748-50- 
Robert Gilresh, v 1748-50. 
John Hurd, w 1748, 1762. 
William Gist, w 1748, 1752. 
William Worthington, v 1749. 
William Kell}', w 1749 ^^^^ 1765- 
Arthur Chinneworth, w 1749, v 1753-55, '59, '60. 
John Ford, v 1749-51- 
Benjamin Bond, \- 1749 51. 
Samuel Owings, v 1750-52, r 1753-57- 
Stephen Gill, w 1750, v 1753-55- 
George Ogg. w 1750. v 1755-57. 



in Any further inl'oniiatiou as lo Kcctors. wartlcn.s, vestrymen or others connected 
with SI. Thomas' Parish will be thankfully received by the Rector, and filed for f\>turc 
reference. — Hditok. 






(. 



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186 

Capt. Nicholas Orrick. v 1750-52, '57, '66-6S. 
Thomas Cockey, v 1751-53. 
John Pindell, w 1751. 
Amon Butler, w 1751. 
Thomas Wells, w 1752. 
Lovelace Gorsuch, w 1752. 

Robert Chapman, w 1753. • 

John Spelmerdine, v 1754-56. 
Joshua Cockey, w 1754, v 1761-63. 
Abel Brown, w 1754, v 1758 60. 
Thomas Cockey Deye, w 1755 
Edward Cockey, w 1755. 
Henry Stevenson, v 1756-58. 
William Hamilton, Jr., v 1756-58. 
William Harvey, v 1756-57, w 1763. 
Stephen Hart Owings, w 1756, w 1774 
Robert Wilmott w 1756, v 1768-70. 
X Jeremiah Johnson, v 1757-59- 

Samuel Worthington, w 1757, v 1762-64. 
John Stansbury, w 1757. 
Richard Wilmott, v 1758-59. 
William Randall, w 1758, v 1770-72. 
George Bramwell, r 1758-64. 
James Kelley, w 1758. 
Geo. Risteau, w 1758, v 1763-65. 
-Alexander Wells, w 1759. 
Richard Chennowith, v 1759-60. 
Vachel Worthington, w 1759. 
John Carter, v 1760-62. 
Solomon Bowen, v 1760-62. 

Thomas Harvey, w 1760. ) 

Benjamin Wells, w 1760. ' 

Thomas Bennett, v 1761-63. 
Charles Wells, w 1761, v 1772-74. 
John Grifl&th, w 1761. 
Joseph Bosley of Jno., v 1762-64. 
Chistopher Carnan, w 1762. 
Stephen Wilkinson, v 1763 65. 
Nathan Cromwell, w 1763, v 1768-70. 



186 

— . John Doughaday, v 1764-67. 
Luke Chapman, v 1764-67. 
Francis Sellers, w 1764. 
Charles Howard, w 1764. 
John Gill, Jr., v 1765-67. 
Mordecai Hammond, v 1766 68. 
Joseph Gist, r 1766-76. 
Robert Teves, v 1767-69, w 1779. 
Thomas Ford, v 1767-69. 
Thomas Worthington, w 1767. 
John Cockey, w 1767. 
Joseph Cromwell, Jr., w 1768. 
Stephen Cromwell, w 1769 
David Brown, w 1769. 
Thomas Owings, v 1769-71. 
Gilbert Israel, v 1769-71. 
John Elder, v 1770 71. 
Edward Dorsey, w 1770. 
Nicholas Dorsey, v 1771-73*- 
Christopher Randall, Jr., v 1771 73- 
Nathan Chapman, Jr., w 1771. 
Job Hunt, w 1 77 1. 
John Cockey Owings, v 1772-74. 
Wm. Hammond, v 1772-74. 
Edward Parrish of Jno., w 1772. 
Walter Bosley, w 1772- 
Joshua Hurd, w 1773. 
Christopher Turnfaugh, w 1773. 
Charles Dorsey of Nicholas, v 1773. 
Charles Walker, v 1774, v 1779-1816. 
Charles Carnan, w 1774, w 1779-1784. 
Thomas Bennett, v 1775-77. 
Dr. Jno, Cradock, v 1775-89, d 1784-89. 
Wm. Wright, w 1775. 

Joshua Jones, w 1775, 1784, 1788-89, 1792-96, 1799. 
John Eager Howard, v 1775-77. 
Capt. Benj. Nicholson, v 1776-79, 1784-85. 
Dr. Thomas Cradock, v 1776, w 1778-79, v 1780-1816. 
Robert N. Carnan, v 1780-82. 



187 

Thomas Beasman, v 1780. 

Wm. Gist, w 1781-82. 

Stephen Shelmerdine, w 1781 

Edward Cockey. v 1782-84. 

Thomas Wells, Jr., w 1783. 

Thomas Harvey, v 1784-87, 1792-93- 

James Howard v 1786-89, r 1792-1805, d 1787-88, '92-94. 

John Tolly Worthington, v 1788-89, 1799-1801, 1818. 

Frederick Councilman, v 1788-89. 

Samuel Ownings, Jr., v 1792-96. 1799-1803, d i8oi- 

John Cockey, v 1792-94. 

John Bond,^i793-95. 1799. 1800, i8oi,v 1806-13; died 1813. 

Elias Brown, v 1792-93. 

Wm. Stacia, w 1793-95- 1799" 1800. 

Nathan Chapman, v 1794. 

Wm. Demitt, w 1794- 

Samuel Owings, (3d), v 1799-1824. 

Phineas Hunt, v 1799- 1809, d 1809. 

Henry Clark; w 1799. 

Wm. Stone, v 1800-05. d 1804. 

Richard R. Moore, v 1800-05. 

Robert Chapman, w 1800. 

Samuel C- Hunt, w 1802. 

Brian Philpot, w 1802, v 1806-12. 

James Winchester, v. 1803-05. 

Dr. Jno. Cromwell, w 1803, v 1806 07. 

Johnson, w 1803. 

Robert North Moale, v 1806-1819, treas. 1820 22, d 1807. 

Joseph West, r 1806- 181 3. 

Thomas Owings, v 1803-05, 1821-22. 

Griffith White, w 1807. 

William Jones, w 1807. 

Moses Brown, v 1808-10. 

Thomas Howard, w 1808. 

Uoyd Ford, w 1808. 

Chistopher Todd, V1810-11, 1813-16, 1818-19. 

George Winchester, d 18 10. 

Thomas Moale, v 1811-13. 1815-16, 1818-19. 1821. 

Walter Worthington, v 1812-13, 1815, d 1813. 



188 

Jno. George Walker, v 1818. 

Geo. W. Jackson, w 1818. 

Horatio Hollingsworth, w r8i8, 1821, r 1822, w 1838-41 

1843. 
Thomas B. Cockey, r 1818-19, v 1819. 
John Johns, V 1818, 1832, 1834, 1838. 
— John Bond of Jno., v 1815-16. 
Robert Ward, v 1816, 1819. 
Charles Worthington, v 1818-19, 1832, 1834. 
David R. Gist, v 1819, 1821. 
Col. David Hopkins, v 1821-23, w 1821-22 
Thomas H. Belt, v 1821-23. 
Stephen W. Falls, v 1821. 
John Hollingsworth, r 1821. 
Robert Riddle, v 1822-24. 

James Piper, v 1822-26, 1838-39, 1845, w 1844, d 1838-39 
Wm. F. Johnson, v 1822. 
Elias Brown, v 1821-23. 
John Patterson, v 1823-29, 1832, w 1824-27. 
Edward A. Cockey, v 1822 29. 
John Kelso, Jr., v 1824-26. 
Christopher Carnan, v 1824-26. 
Wm. Brown, v 1824-29. 
Dr. Wm. Hitch, v 1826-29, d 1828. 
Col. James Bankhead, v 1827-29. 

Nicholas C. Carroll, v 1827-28, 1838-40, 1845, 48, 1830. 
John Tagart, w 1828, v 1829. 
Owen Maynard, v 1829-2832. 
Benjamin Arthur, v 1832-34, 1838-50, w 1845. 
James Owings, v 1832, 1834. 
Wm. Tagart, v 1832. 
Rich'd H. Owen, v 1834, 1843-58, w 183S-52, d 1844-58, 

treas. '53-58. 
W. Van Bibber, v 1838-41. 

Henry Stevenson, v 1838-41, 1843-52, w 1851-66, d 1840. 
J. Hammond, v 1838. 

Dr. Edmund B. Addison, v 1838-47, r 1838-41. 
Dr. Thomas Cradock Walker, v 1839-41. 
P. Forden, v 1839-41. 



189 

J. Maynadier, v 1840-41. 

Cardiff Tagart, v 1841, 1843, 1844, 1852, w 1846. 

J. McHenry Hollingsworth, v 1843-46. 

W. H. Medcalf, v 1843, d 1843. 

Edward Hall, v 1843, 1844, 1847, w 1845-47. 

Franklin Metcalf, r 1843-48. 

Jno. H. Carroll, v 1844-53, r 1849-54. 

Edward D. Lynn, v 1846-49, '51-65, ^ 1848-49, w 1863, 

treas. 1859-65, d 1859-64. 
Dr. J. C. Morfit, v 1848-51. 
Wm. P. Maulsby, v 1848-49. 
Thomas H. Gibson, v 1848-53. 
Thomas Cradock, v 1849-96, w 1865-96, d 1869-96. 
Dennis A. Smith, v 1850-51, w 1850. 
Lt. J. Fletcher, v 1850-52. 

Dr. J. T. Councilman, v 1852-68, r 1853-68, w 1852, d 1868. 
John Ross, V 1853. 

Giles, V 1853-56. 

Robert Riddle, v 1854, died 1855. 

J. Louis Smith, v 1854-62. 

James H. McHenry, 1855-56. 

William F. Johnson, 1855, '59-60, w 1861. 

Dr. James Maynard, v 1856-61. 

Alex. Riddle, v 1856-85, w 1880-85. 

G. B. Mulligan, v 1857-58. 

Col. Huger, v i860. 

Gen. Benj. C. Howard, w 1859, '60, '62. 

Dr. John C. VanWyck, v 1861 63. 

Reuben Stump, v 1861-75. 

Carroll Spence, v 1862-69. 

R. F. Maynard; v 1862-97, treas. 1865-97, w 1885-97. 

George H. Elder, w 1863, v 1864-66, d 1865-66. 

William Devries, w 1864. 

Charles Lyon Rogers, v 1865-77. 

Charles Morton Stewart, v 1867-98, d 1897-98. 

Dr. Wm. M. Wood, w 1867-79, v 1873, 1875-79. 

Noah Walker, v 1869-73. 

Mittnacht, w 1869-73. 

Samuel M. Shoemaker, v 1870-73, 1880-84. 



190 

William Fell Johnson, r 1869-98, v 1877 98. 
Charles K. Harrison, v 1874-77. 

B. F. Voss, V 1878-80. 
John N. Carroll, v 1878-83. 
Richard B. Post, v 1881-88. 
Samuel H. Tagart, v 1884-92. 
Samuel M. Shoemaker, v 1884-98. 

C. T. Cockey, v 1885-98. 

Wm. Checkley Shaw, v 1889-98. 

George N. Moale, 1892-98, w 1897-98, treas. 1897-98. 

Thomas Cradock, 1896-98. 

John McHenry, 1897-98. 

HppenMi '*1l." 

Donations to St. Thomas' Church, for Church 

Improvement — 1890. 

Samuel H. Tagart, $590950; C. Morton Stewart, $1200; 
William Checkley Shaw, $1024.73; Children's Fair, $150; Mrs. 
Samuel Johnston, $20; Fulton Winkler, $10; E. B. Hunting. 
$5; Mrs. H. A Atkinson, $50; Dr. I. E. Atkinson, $10; Genl. 
Felix Agnus, $100; Wm. Stingle, $5.00; Miss Ellin Elder, $10; 
Master Harry McCubbin, $1.00; Dr. Robert W. Johnson, $10: 
Mr and Mrs. J. W. McCubbin, $5.00; Dr. W. H. H. Campbell, 
$5.00; Wm. H. Shipley, $50; Mrs. Sarah Painter, $10; Miss 
May Lockwood, $10: D. C. Lyle, $25; S. H. Lyon, $100; M. S. 
Atkinson, $25; Charles T. Cockey, $50; George N. Moale, $50; 
Mrs. John Stewart, $50; Rev. Hobart Smith, S25; George 
Ward, $5.00; Dr. H. Louis Naylor, $25. Total $8940.73. 

N. B. — This sum does not represent all of the original 
amounts subscribed, as a number of them were afterwards 
withdrawn. 

In addition to this sum Mr. Wm. Fell Johnston presented to 
the Sunday School a Chapel Organ, for which he paid $150. 

W1U.1AM Checkley Shaw, 
Baltimore, October 15, 1890. Chairynan and Treasure?-. 



191 



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